introductions?

[mama_tigress]

So I'm the newest member of this group, I think, and I'd love to learn who else is here. I'm also in a chatty mood tonight because my DH, who is a med student, had to be in the hospital all day today and is on overnight call tonight, and DS is sleeping, so I'm just sitting here eating Oreos :lol

My name is Ellie. My DS, Ezra, is 14 months old and growing into this amazing adorable little boy. DH is in his last year of med school. This pregnancy was not exactly planned but is very welcome; we had hoped to get pregnant in about 2-3 months. This timing is definitely not the best, as I'm due right when DH starts residency (DS was 2 weeks "early", but who knows this time!); we'll also very likely be moving to a new city! Right now we're thinking that we might move a few months early and work out something with his school, so that Ezra can have a few months to adjust to a new home before having to adjust to a new baby.

um, let's see...I'm 25. I have a degree in biology, and I worked in clinical research before DS was born. Now I'm a SAHM for the time being, but I intend to find a career of some sort when we settle somewhere more permanently. We're vegans. I'm a big environmentalist. I was a runner but haven't been able to run much since DS was born due to being underweight (yeah, vegan, nursing, pregnant, and underweight...I get a lot of flak from my mother lol). DS was born in a local birth center, and this time we'll either do a birth center or a homebirth, depending on where we're living at the time.

That's basically me!

[witch au lait]

@}-`-}-,-'-

[queensgirl]

My name is Chris. Im 32 and have been with DH for 13years. We have an amazing 2 year old DD. Im a teacher and DH works in the computer field from home. That is mostly a great thing except at 6am when its cold and dark and I have to get up and leave the house while he rolls over and goes back to sleep.
This pregnancy was planned and nothing short of a miracle since it took me 3 years to get pregnant with DD. I nursed DD until she was 23 months and loved it. I gave birth in a hospital and I had a good experience (I gave birth in 5 hours) so I plan to do it again. We are foodies, do a lot of organic and local food and avoid the processed stuff (for the most part).
Im excited about this pregnancy but so scared too since having a previous mc. I have a Dr.appointment on sunday.
Im thrilled to have found this board and to share my pregnancy with you all!

[june08]

Hi, my name is Chris too -- I live in brooklyn ny with my DH & DS (6yo). Was pregnant last Oct. too, but had to terminate at 12 weeks b/c the fetus was "not viable". It was a tough one and has taken some time to recover from it, emotionally. Under the care of a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine we conceived this month after getting some discouraging fsh levels from a fertility specialist. I really give the acupuncture and herbs a lot of credit for our current pregnancy -- DH did the acu and herbs too! A bit out of his comfort zone but he was very game. We're going for an ultrasound this week (I'll be 5 wks on tue.) to see what's going on this time around. I'm trying to give myself the freedom to feel optimistic, the idea being that lightening doesn't strike the same spot twice -- though realistically, sometimes it does!

I love to knit and cook -- I am preoccupied with Indian cuisine these days. I'm also a postpartum doula and run a perinatal mood disorder support group.

looking forward to making this journey with this group!

[lab80]

I'm Lisa, 26 married to DH, 24 of almost 2 years. We were married 3 months when we ttc DS, we were successful our first month. He was born in October '06. We knew we would like to have our kids close in age so we decided to ttc again, it took us 3 months. AF still wasn't regular so I kept getting the days off, but I apparently got it right :lol

Used a MW for everything prenatal and was planning a homebirth. I developed pre-e and ended up having a hospital birth, but my MW was a birthing coach as well as DH. I was induced and handled it until an hour before DS was born, I got the epi and fell asleep at 3cm. I woke up an hour later at 9.5cm, nice! The birthing experience wasn't terrible, but afterwards with them taking the baby and all of that was annoying. DH stayed with him the entire time though, and he slept in the room with us. DS still nurses and I'm not sure when he will wean, we'll see what happens. My milk supply isn't as grand as it used to be. Four days after DS was born I bled a lot and needed a D&C, they wanted to give me a GA but I said I wasn't cool with that, so they gave me a spinal. The same doctor who was there for his birth performed the D&C so that was good. He's an awesome doctor.

We are using the same MW this time. Hoping for a homebirth again.

I didn't really have any MS with DS but I do this time. Preggie Pops actually are working quite well. I was surprised :) Thanks for the suggestion!

[spearso]

My name is Susie, this is our fourth baby. We have two girls (6 and 4) and a boy (2). First two babies were born in a hospital with an epidural, Owen was born at home. We're hoping to do another homebirth, it was a really pleasant experience. I'm 7 wks tomorrow, feeling pretty good, doesn't seem to feel as tired as the last couple of pg, and ms seems to hit at night, I wake up feeling nauseous in the middle of the night... probably has something to do with the insomnia I've been experiencing! Oh, and I'm already making trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night, hard to believe someone the size of an appleseed has so much influence already!

Looking forward to meeting everyone!

susie ;)

[LacieD]

I'm Lacie, I'm 25, and this will be our 2nd baby. We have one son, Ethan, who just turned 2 in September. I've also had 2 losses, both after the heartbeat was seen, so pardon me if I'm a little paranoid for the first tri. :) I'm a WAHM - I have a small card design business. :)

We live near Chicago, and I'm really, really hoping that they'll get a freestanding birth center up and running around here before next June! If not, I'm torn between another hospital birth (with a CNM) or a homebirth. My son's birth was with a CNM, but I had a lot of interventions that I didn't want, so I'm hoping for a better labor this time around. :)

I look forward to getting to know all of you and I hope I get to stick around the full 9 months this time! :sticky

[BirthFree]

I'm Julie, I'm 31, this is my 4th pregnancy and will be our 4th child. We have 3 boys (5, 3.75, 14m on the 18th) and my husband and I have been married almost 7 years.

I'm a SAHM, WAHM (I am 1/2 of the dyeing team of Selah on Hyena cart), I LOVE to knit and anything re: birth. I'm a doula and midwife assistant when I can be. I had my first at the hospital (a homebirth-to-hospital-transfer after 38 hours of labor), my second at home and our third was an unassisted waterbirth. My husband owns his own business and together we make a wonderful team.

I'm a fraternal twin and have a niece that is 6 days younger than my youngest - I LOVE being an aunt!! Overall I enjoy my family tremendously. :)

[Chic_Mama]

I'm MacKenzie, I am 23 (which I normally don't readily share because people tend to think I am a young naive mama- which I am not!). I have been married for 4 years on New Years Eve to Jeremiah and have an 18 month old DS- Roman. I am currently just over 4 weeks along, due June 19. I am a WAHM (I own a business that helps teach mamas about the natural choices they have in parenting while helping them see that they don't have to go totally granola to parent naturally- I also sell product), and I am also training to become a postpartum doula.

My first birth was all natural (including no IV) at a local level 3 hospital, and although it went mostly how I had layed out in my birth plan, it is not an experience I want to repeat. We are planning a homebirth with the only CNM in the area and I am so looking forward to birthing in my own peaceful home environment. However, my CNM is a little nervous about the baby since my brother has spina bifada, so I have much higher chances of having a baby with the same birth defect. We have made the decision to wait until the 20 week ultrasound to find out if there is a problem and I am trying to just put it in the Lord's hands and not let it worry me. This baby will be however God intends and I just have to rest in that- I am trying to have peace in the mystery.

I am still nursing DS- he is a total boob man so we will have to see if he starts showing signs of weaning as my milk decreases. I know DH would really like him to wean, while personally I would like to hold on to this connection for a while longer. We shall see.

Lets see, hmmm, what else? I love to knit and do crafts in general. I used to be an awesome homemaker but lately that has slipped a bit- need to get a handle back on that. We intend to homeschool and I would like at least 4 children biologically, and possibly adopt after that. I guess that is all for now! I am looking forward to getting to know all you ladies over the next 8 months!

[JustVanessa]

Hi I am Vanessa. I am 26, and partenered to a wonderful man named Kevin who is 40. I have one son Byron who is 2.5 from a previous marriage and he is fantastic. He is weaned but we are a very attached mama/son. He doesn't cosleep which is just fine by me, he finally sleeps through the night!
Right now I work assembling out-going orders in a grocery warehouse, I also put away freight. Which means all day long I lift boxes 10-80lb. Needless to say I have been dog tired after work this last week. I plan to be a SAHM after this one is born.
I had a very very miserable pregnancy with ds. I had exreme fatigue/low bp, complete hip seperation at 20weeks, pneumonia which landed me in the hospital and pre-e for the last 12 weeks of pregnancy. I was induced when I went into liver failure which led to 3 days of labour, an epi, and a c/s.
I am really hoping to have a nateral childbirth this time. I don't think I will consider a home birth (too scared with how bad the last one was) But I do want to have a midwife attend me with no drugs etc. We will have to wait and see I guess. I may end up in the same boat if I get pre-e again.

[*green*faery*]

Hi! Welcome everyone! It's so interesting reading about you all, I wish we were neighbors!

My names Erin, I'm 29, my dh Geoff is 34. We have one son Kylan, he'll be 2 in November. Both pregnancies were planned, and I'd like to maybe have one more. I'd like to have a homebirth this time, but I haven't completely decided. I was 10 days late with ds and induced with pit, although I did it without epi. I birthed at a hospital birthing center with a 'medwife'. My labor was not all bad, but I was unhappy with the constant monitoring. This time I will have a doula, I discovered last time that my dh is not a birth coach (although he is a great masseuse!)

I am a sahm and a part-time nanny. I watch a 10mo boy (since he was 6w) and his 6yo sister.

I have been very tired and been taking naps with ds any day he is willing. I usually like cooking, but not for the past few weeks!

We are a vegetarian family and strive to live as green as possible. I enjoy gardening, canning, cooking, sewing, and knitting.

[yonit]

I can't believe I am posting here.... I am still in a state of shock of this pregnancy so please bear with me..

My name is Yonit and I just had my 4th baby 8 months ago. My kids are 17, almost 8, 6.5 and 8 months. I seem to have this weird history as my 2nd and 3rd are just about 17 months apart and so will these 2. But I also have these wide very infertile gaps between kids (including a bunch of miscarriages) I will be 40 in about 2 months.

I actually had an appointment to discuss birth control of some sort with my doc next week. MY DH is elated, I am less so. Although I know I will come on board soon.. Right now we aren't telling anyone.

I am now 5 weeks pregnant, due with #5 on June 15. We will be planning another homebirth (our 3rd out of hospital birth). I homeschool our kids - although my oldest is now a sophomore in college.

I am also a doula and childbirth educator. Although, I haven't attended any births in a while due to having my own baby. I did just take a job teaching CBE in a maternity center though. I also work as a trainer for a doula training program. And in my copious amounts of spare time I am working on a doctorate in Naturopathy.

So, I guess that is me

[i*wish]

My intro will have to be quick....2yo dd running wild. I'm Susan. 4wk6days pregnant with #2. Feeling good but cannot wait for 'very early' pregnancy to be over!
We are very excited. Will plan a homebirth. Had my first in a hospital out of necessity. I'm a SAHM for now and loving it. Married 6years (together 11) to my dh. We're both 34.

That's all I can think of!

[calpurnia]

Hello!

So - I'm Anna, I'm 23, have been with Harry, 26, for 1.5 years. We weren't planning this pregnancy. I'm doing a masters in medical anthropology at the moment, & this babe has been given a due date RIGHT in the middle of the exams. Going to have to get an extension of a year or so on my dissertation. DP is a 1st year medical student. We live in London.

It has taken me a long time to feel okay with this, but hopefully I am there. I've had an abortion before & despite my doubts the situation feels very different this time around... We were being investigated for a suspected ectopic pregnancy, so we got to see the little jellybean on Friday, measuring at about 7 weeks. That was fantastic, & has made me feel much better about this adventure...

I'm hoping to have a homebirth - under the NHS all women are guaranteed the right to have a homebirth - assuming the pregnancy is trouble free.

Off to the library now!

[bean's mama]

Hi!!
My name is Lori. I am 29 years old. I have been married to my DH, James, 30, for a little over a year. We have one son, who we call Bean, who is 16 mos. I am a SAHM who just very recently finished my MA is sociology (Yeah me!!). My DH is a botanical technician for a local timber company. We live in beautiful, rainy Humboldt County. I really want a VBAC but it seems that the only place that offers them are revising their policy on VBACs, so who knows. My birth with my son was really traumatizing, so I try to not to stress too much on how this birth will be. I'm still kind of surpirsed that I'm here. We only tried for one month, and even then we barely tried. I guess we are just really fertile. I was on the pill when Bean came along. I really can't wait for the gross part of being pg to be over. I feel like poop all of the time:(.

[cody'smomma]

Hi Everyone! I just found out on Friday, but after three HPTs and 3 BFPs (although faint) I'm here.

I'm Sara-29, been with my guy Adam-28 for 5 years. We have a 2yo Cody who is still nursing and co-sleeping. No plans to stop any of that anytime soon. Although this last week I have been working on night-weaning as I know I will need my sleep!

I am a full time student, which I am sick of, but I only have one quarter left so I just want to get it done. I will graduate in March (accounting) which will give me a few months to relax before baby is born. Then I will be a SAHM until some later date when I feel like getting a job. DP is an electrician apprentice which means he also goes to school two nights a week in addition to a 40-hour job. We just bought a house this summer and are doing some remodeling (ourselves). WE have one room to get done and now that a baby is coming, we better do it soon because that's where I want the tub for my home-water birth!

My DS was born in a birthcenter in the water. It was an amazing experience and perfect in every way. This time I *think* I"m going for a homebirth. As long as I can find a great midwife. If not, I will go back to the birthcenter, I loved my midwife there. We just moved 45 min away from it, so I didn't really want to have to drive in labor, but we'll see.

I love to cook (but not lately), garden, read, sew, I'm hugely into environmentally sensitive living and strive to be better everyday.

I did have one mc before DS so I'm very much holding my breath here and no one IRL knows about this except DP. I'll probably wait a bit to tell people. Oh, and this will be my last kiddo.

Nice to *meet* all of you!!

[bellydance2290]

Hi Everyone!
I am Michelle, 32 DH is Edsel, also 32. We've been married for 6 years but together for 12. This is our first and I am 5 weeks, 4 days today, due June 12th by my own calculations. I live in Atlanta and there aren't any birth centers here, my husband is terrified of homebirth, so we will be having a hospital birth. They do have birthing tubs and allow waterbirths so that is what I am shooting for.

This pregnancy was a little bit of a shock in the sense that we were ready but not really trying yet. I had been tracking my temps and charting so I was pretty aware of my fertile time. I guess I just didn't think it would happen so soon (first month we kind of tried). We are thrilled though!! I feel great so far, just a little tired. Last night I started getting a scratchy throat so hopefully I am not getting sick!

I currently work full time at a mortgage company and plan on SAH once the baby comes so I am trying to come up with something to do from home to supplement income. I know we can do it, we'll just need to get creative. I do have moments of panic about this but then I remind myself that it will all work out one way or another!

Lets see, what else? We strive to live as naturally as possible, we eat mainly organic, not processed food. We do eat meat but lately I haven't wanted it much. I used to be vegetarian so we'll see what happens throughout this pregnancy.

It's so great to read all of your intros and *meet* all of you! I am looking forward to this journey together!

[francesca]

I'm 31 and so is DH. We've been married for almost 8.5 years. Our oldest is 5.5 and she was 2.5 weeks early - very hard back labor - not fun delivery. Our second is 2.5 and he came 4 weeks early because my water broke. But he weighed almost 7 lbs, so I'm glad he did. His delivery was MUCH easier and they kept us 24 hours only because he was that early. It was a wonderful experience.

We moved to the Denver area about a year ago, so this will be my first child with this new doctor. But, he comes highly recommended by several friends, and is very understanding on what I do/don't want from this pregnancy. I'm excited.

DH is an art director/designer and I'm a SAHM, though I write freelance on occasion. Mostly I just love hanging out with my kids and our neighbors. We have a great little community here and it is a nice, more relaxed, change of pace from the area we moved from (San Francisco Bay Area).

Oh, and I'm due June 5, but who knows WHEN this baby will make his/her appearance. We aren't finding out what we're having since we already have one of each (and the clothes to go with it) and this will be our last child. Whee!

[DiannaK]

:wave
Hi ya'll! I'm Dianna, 34, married to DH Brett, who is 41. I'm momma to Abigail, age 12; Rachel, age 18m, and the new baby is due 6/1/08. This is my 4th PG .. had a miscarriage at 8-10wks before having Abigail.

I'm a nurse in the ER, working 2 days per week. DH is self-employed, as a realtor and an appraiser. We were lucky to have him stay home with Rachel for her first year.
I'm also involved with a cooperative playgroup, Brilliant Babies, with some of my other AP mom friends! It's LOADS of fun .. I feel like a pre-school teacher, while I'm hanging with other like minded moms!

Feeling pretty good so far with this PG .. I'm not nauseated .. but it's a weird "OMG, I MUST eat NOW, or else I'll throw up" feeling. Does this make sense to anyone? Kind of like a strange, borderline low blood sugar kind of feel.
Current cravings ... SPAGHETTIOS with meatballs ... did the same thing with Rachel, too.

I am still nursing Rachel .. no plans to stop that; but I am TRYING to night wean ... mostly for my sleep! We're co-sleeping, and I may look at attempting to put her in her bed (which is in our room) soon. I just know that when I get bigger, it's going to be a struggle to get comfy ...

Looking forward to getting to know everyone!

Dianna

[Kylahroo]

I'm Tanya, 33, and pregnant with my 5th baby! We have 4 children - Kylah is 11.5 and my only hospital birth, Jonah is 8.5 and was my first beautiful homebirth, Griffin is 5.5 and was born on my birthday at home, Finnley is nearly 2.5 and was also a home waterbirth. Two boys sandwiched between two girls.

While we were planning to have another child, we were hoping to start this winter. Guess this baby had other plans! In all honesty, I'm still shocked I'm pregnant. I've been charting forever (to avoid pregnancy). We BD'd on cycle day 9 and I didn't ovulate until cycle day 14-16 - dh's swimmers lived for a LONG time in a very dry environment. Suffice to say, we're thinking "baby girl" which would be just fine as I have a lot of little girly clothes that need more use!

Dh, 34, is a 3rd year resident. Ellie, when I was pregnant with our last, he graduated a few days before my due date. She was 12 days late, but dh had about 6 weeks off before starting residency so we had a good month with him before he began his intern year. We also were not moving which helped a lot! He's currently a resident in adult psychiatry, applying to the child psychiatry program this year and hopes to have only 2 more years of residency.

I'm a small business owner and I work out of the home (I was a WAHM for many, many years). This will be the first newborn with my new WOHM status so I'm not at all sure how that's going to work. The good news is I have a great team of people working for me and may actually get a maternity leave this time that lasts more than 24 hours!

We live in Lino Lakes, Minnesota. Our children attend a local Waldorf school. I love to knit and have been crazily knitting daily for many months now. Gaining new skills every day!

Happy to be here!

[ColwynsMommy]

I'm Rachel, 27, married to Doug, 29. We've been married for four years and together for a total of 11 years. We have two boys, Colwyn (who will be 4 in a week) and Lachlann (who is 2). With the boys, we got pregnant the first month we tried, so I was surprised this time when it took three months. But three months isn't bad, overall. I'm due June 4th, which puts me at 7 weeks.

My boys were born in the hospital, I had great epidurals with both of them, and the births were fantastic. This time I'm hoping for a homebirth (still haven't fully decided) not to avoid drugs, but to stay in a more comfortable environment and to keep the baby from rough handling/separation/etc. I'm quite nervous about how I'll handle the pain, though. :o

My husband is a systems administrator/development engineer and I mostly stay at home, though I do work per diem evenings and weekends at the local hospital (in the staffing office). I'm looking forward to not having to work outside the house at all after this kiddo is born.

We homeschool, garden, read voraciously, and love our dog and ferret.

[Tulips11]

I'm Anne. My wonderful DH and I have 3 children (see my sig.) We had an ectopic pregnancy before our DD. Then I had a m/c before our first DS. Then I miscarried twins before our second DS.

We were not planning this pregnancy. We're surprised but happy!

I was willing to wait to find out our baby's gender, but my DH wants to know so I guess we'll be finding out. We have several ultrasounds in our pregnancy because of a risk for congenital heart defects so finding out hasn't been a problem.

[gaudynight]

I'm Cathy and I've been married to my DH, Nick, since I was four months pregnant with our oldest daughter. Annabel (Annie) is five and was unplanned. She was born in hospital, drug free. DD2, Juliet, has just turned four. She was born at home at 41 weeks. DD3, Natalie, was born in April at home with Juliet present (Annie chose not to be there). I'm an SAHM and we homeschool. Natalie is exclusively breastfed and Juliet and Annie nurse occasionally (which we don't really tell people about... not offline anyway!) Annie sleeps with us, Juliet sleeps on a mattress in our room and Natalie is in a sidecar - she seems to sleep better there than in our room.

This pregnancy is a bit of a surprise. I haven't had a period since Natalie was born, but I had a lot of my usual pregnancy symptoms so I took a test and sure enough, pregnant. We're not really sure about a due date but we suspect early-mid June at this point. The midwife thinks it will be earlier rather than later, but we'll see. We've only told a few people.

I'm really tired at the moment and nauseous almost constantly. While being excited about this baby I'm a little nervous, we didn't feel ready to have another one yet.

[ShawnMarie]

Hi, I'm ShawnMarie 37, married Scott, 28, for five months now. I have a DD Sheridan who is 13.

My ex (married 12 years, divorced 2 years ago) did not want more children and I never thought I'd find someone I wanted to marry after that mess, let alone someone who wanted kids while I was still young enough to have them so this is all a very welcome surprise for me.

I thought it'd take awhile to get preggers because of my age and being on the pill for so long, but it happened 7 months faster than when I was 23 with DD.

My first birth experience was awful in many ways, though I did not have a CS. I almost wish I had since DD was 10lbs 6.5oz and she did a great deal of damage to my insides on the way out. She was late, I was induced and threw up the entire time. I remember every time they upped the pitocin I puked. I also was induced on a Friday and was told, "If you don't have the baby by 5 we are doing a CS. The doctor has to go out of town tonight." Geez.

I have picked different doctors who work in a hospital that I have come to like very much because of past visits for surgery. It is a religious hospital and though I do not practice a religion myself, I find that their routines and appreciation for life are comforting to me.

I'm concerned about another big baby and the fact that I have had surgery for diverticulosis... a third of my colon has been removed and there is scar tissue etc. Plus I have a spastic colon, IBS and all that good stuff. Since I was so young when I had the surgery none of the doctors in the area have had a patient who had the surgery go on to have children so it is kind of navigating the unknown.

My biggest concern is a diverticulitis attack because the medications I have to go on are damaging to me, I can't image what they'd do to a baby and not treating it is not an option - I had a perforated colon the last time. So lots of fiber and hoping for me that I make it through these months without Divertic trouble.

So, that's it for me. I'm not sleeping well and I have night sickness instead of morning sickness. I can't bear to eat or drink anything after 3pm. That means I wake up dizzy, but after a glass of juice I'm usually OK.

Nice to meet everyone.

[Spider]

Hi my name is Rina, 27 and I am with my DH, 40 for 5 years. We are expecting our 1st kid now. I have Master's degree in History and DH is an electonics engineer. I am going to college again to get a degree in network engineering :wink
I am planning to stay home or go part-time until the kid goes to school.

[anjasma]

I'm Stephanie, mom to 4 year old dd, married for seven years (actually been together for twelve years.) I'm 32 and five weeks or so along now. I had an amazing pregnancy and birth in a birth center with #1, and considering a home birth for #2. My biggest concern is my sensitive girl, I want it to be a postitive experience for her, so hoping our friends can keep an eye on her for a while.

Glad to have found this thread!

[ladyelms]

Hello all,

I'm an apprentice homebirth midwife in CO. I'm 33, have been married to a wonderful man for 16 years and together have three home-birthed boys (15, 11 and 8). We didn't plan to have another, but are happy to "start over" again nonetheless! I've attended 60-70 home births so far in the two and half years I've been birth assisting, and I really look forward to experiencing pregnancy and birth from this new angle. Haven't decided yet whether I'll have a midwife attended homebirth, or try for a UC. I figure I have plenty of time to know for certain when the time comes.

I had a miscarriage last June and so am still riding through that "wonder-if-this-one-will-stick" phase. Looking for all those tale-tell signs of present hormones; so far, we've got a little hint of this and a little hint of that. Just having faith that whatever will be will be.

Glad to be here!

O, and my EDD is 6/10. Six little ol' weeks today. :)

[skg_7]

Hi everyone!

Fascinating stories! It's so fun to be comparing notes with all of you, as we move in a clump down the timeline towards June.

My name is Sarah. I'm 34 as of last week, and 5 weeks pg with my first biological baby. However, I'm already a Mama. My partner, Johanne, carried our first child. Jonah's 2-and-a-half now. Johanne and I have been together for almost 9 years, married for 3+.

I'm thinking I'd really like a homebirth with a tub and a midwife, but may instead use a birthing center if I can get in. Major waiting lists here. All I know for sure is I'd strongly prefer not to go anywhere near a hospital.

Johanne has stayed at home with Jonah all this time, though he has just started part-time daycare up the street and he loves it. I'm an executive at a company in downtown Montreal. We're going to have to switch roles when this baby comes! (Actually, I hope we can put away enough money to keep us both home full-time for many months, and maternity leave in Canada is up to 1 year with partial payment, so we can probably make it work if we stay in our teeny-tiny condo.)

We're mainly vegetarian, definitely AP-oriented, and madly/deeply/forever in love with our little toddler. I actually find myself hurting a little on his behalf, knowing that another baby is coming. But I'm also celebrating on his behalf, knowing he'll have a sibling for life.

Anyone else thinking about trying Elimination Communication for the first time with this next baby?

[StacyL]

oops - dbl post

[Faithsmommy]

Hello, I am Beth. I am 22 years old and have been married for 1.5 years. We had a surprise pregnancy in April '07 that sadly ended in miscarriage at 13 weeks. After that we decided that we were ready to ttc. We waited the (almost) 3 months after the D&C and got pregnant again the first month that we tried. So here I am 5 weeks along and due on June 16th!
I currently work as a manager at a drop-in childcare center and my husband works full time and is a senior in college, getting his bachelor's in mechanical engineering. I will be going back to work after the birth but will be able to take the baby with me. I am planning on a hospital birth, hopefully naturally but we will see...
I plan on breastfeeding, cosleeping, babywearing, and all that fun stuff...:wink

[StacyL]

So I'm the newest member of this group, I think, and I'd love to learn who else is here. I'm also in a chatty mood tonight because my DH, who is a med student, had to be in the hospital all day today and is on overnight call tonight, and DS is sleeping, so I'm just sitting here eating Oreos :lol

:wave

Oh my - you're me!!

My dh is a third year med student, and I haven't seen him in 36 hours! He was on overnight last night, and left at 5 am yesterday morning, but should be home after dinner tonight. How funny is that!

I am 37 (for 2 more weeks anyway) and I was a Biology major back in college, but never used my degree.

I'm a SAHM to two boys, and this is my second time in the June DDC - I was in it in 2006 for my ds #2 - he ended up being born May 31st.

My first birth experience was awful in many ways, though I did not have a CS. I almost wish I had since DD was 10lbs 6.5oz and she did a great deal of damage to my insides on the way out. She was late, I was induced and threw up the entire time. I remember every time they upped the pitocin I puked.

Sorry to hear you had a hard time. My ds#2 was 10 lbs. 2 oz., but I had a normal HB with no problems.


Dh, 34, is a 3rd year resident. Ellie, when I was pregnant with our last, he graduated a few days before my due date. She was 12 days late, but dh had about 6 weeks off before starting residency so we had a good month with him before he began his intern year. We also were not moving which helped a lot! He's currently a resident in adult psychiatry, applying to the child psychiatry program this year and hopes to have only 2 more years of residency.


DS #2 came during finals week of first year for dh :lol

[catholicmama]

Hi, I am Rebecca, married almost 10 years(on Dec. 6) to John. We have 4 kiddos(see my sig) and this is number 5. We live in West Virginia and moved here a year and a half ago from the D.C. area .

I'm planning a homebirth(my 4th was a HBAC) again.

Nice to "meet" everyone.

[sunmamma]

Hey mamas! I'm Sunny, 33 from southern PA. Been with my man for 11 years, have a son Jonah who is four. I am due the 16th(hahahaha due dates!!!:p). I am very excited! My birth with Jonah was planned as a homebirth but I went to the hospital by choice, not necessity, after 40 hours of prodromal(sp.?) labor. Once at the hospital things got a bit hectic, but I birthed my son vaginally after 50 some hours of labor and four hours of pushing.(not usually done in a hospital but I had a great doc who made it clear I was going to push for as long as it took as long as baby was ok!Thank you Daphne!) After my son was born he was taken to NICU because I had run a fever, and was there for three days while being treated for sepsis(which he did not have). All in all, the experience was a bit traumatic. I decided I needed to wait quite a while before having any more babies!!! Some time this past year I started thinking about another one....I am a birth doula, and those little fresh babies make ya want to have one yourself!!! So I talked it over with dp, who said "Hey you are the one with the uterus, if I had one of those, we would have already had another little one":lol......so this last month was our first cycle of "trying" and voila! I guess this was really meant to be! I am five weeks and besides feeling tired and a bit cranky at times, I feel great! hmmmm.........what else......my dp is a custom house builder/timber framer, we are homeschoolers, live very organically, love reggae music and drumming, and are in the midst of renovating our house! As you can imagine I am crackin' the whip around here to get things done before baby comes so we will not have to live in a construction zone! Ever hear the saying 'the shoemaker's family goes barefoot'? yeah, well apply that to a carpenter's family!!!:dizzy: There's lots to do around here!!(dp says uh-oh, it's starting already, I think he means the prego bossy woman is back!)
So glad to "meet" you all and look forward to our chats!
Peace!

[sunmamma]

Hey mamas! I'm Sunny, 33 from southern PA. Been with my man for 11 years, have a son Jonah who is four. I am due the 16th(hahahaha due dates!!!:p). I am very excited! My birth with Jonah was planned as a homebirth but I went to the hospital by choice, not necessity, after 40 hours of prodromal(sp.?) labor. Once at the hospital things got a bit hectic, but I birthed my son vaginally after 50 some hours of labor and four hours of pushing.(not usually done in a hospital but I had a great doc who made it clear I was going to push for as long as it took as long as baby was ok!Thank you Dr. Goldberg!) After my son was born he was taken to NICU because I had run a fever, and was there for three days while being treated for sepsis(which he did not have). All in all, the experience was a bit traumatic. I decided I needed to wait quite a while before having any more babies!!! Some time this past year I started thinking about another one....I am a birth doula, and those little fresh babies make ya want to have one yourself!!! So I talked it over with dp, who said "Hey you are the one with the uterus, if I had one of those, we would have already had another little one":lol......so this last month was our first cycle of "trying" and voila! I guess this was really meant to be! I am five weeks and besides feeling tired and a bit cranky at times, I feel great! hmmmm.........what else......my dp is a custom house builder/timber framer, we are homeschoolers, live very organically, love reggae music and drumming, and are in the midst of renovating our house! As you can imagine I am crackin' the whip around here to get things done before baby comes so we will not have to live in a construction zone! Ever hear the saying 'the shoemaker's family goes barefoot'? yeah, well apply that to a carpenter's family!!!:dizzy: There's lots to do around here!!(dp says uh-oh, it's starting already, I think he means the prego bossy woman is back!)
So glad to "meet" you all and look forward to our chats!
Peace!

[*Karen*]

OK guys. It is finally time for mine!

I am Karen, 23, married to Sean, 27, since '05. DS was a surprise pregnancy but was the best "mistake" I've ever made. I was finishing my undergrad degree. The plan was for me to take a year off with him and then start Pharmacy school this year. I went the first two days and realized that my heart really wasn't in it. I wanted another child so badly.

DS was born after a horribly medical pregnancy. I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at 24 weeks and was on bedrest until 37 weeks. I had an ultrasound at least once a week and they kept scaring me so badly that he wasn't going to make it any longer. My blood pressure never really rose any, it just always stayed about 140/90 and shot way up when I was at the doctors office. The OB gave no respect to my at home readings and put my on medication. I was induced at 37 weeks and DS was only 5lbs 5ozs. He was so tiny and didn't even have suck swallow. I completely contribute his health to my emotional status while I was pregnant as well as all of the medication I was on and the tons of the ultrasounds.

This time I want to go 100% the other direction. My midwife is on board and while we will watch my blood pressure closely, we really want to listen to my body this time. I think I just have an extreme desire to do it "right" this time.

DS is still nursing and it will break my heart if he weans. It took us three months to get nursing correctly, and I don't think either of us are ready to quit. But it is entirely possible that I am more attached to it than he is.

I am due sometime between June 10th and June 15th. My cycle and conception date don't match!

[klink2]

I'm Kristin, 39. It took dh and I years to get here. When our dd was 18 months, dh was diagnosed with Chron's disease and he was so sick for over 2years he couldn't really leave the house. We had all but given up even thinking about a 2nd child when he went into remission. After he was in remission for a year, we started TTC. It took us 13 month, but with the help of a reproductive endocrynologist and an acupuncturist, we finally did it. This baby will be born just shy of my 40th birthday and my dd's 6th birthday.

[kltroy]

I'm Karen (30) and have been married to Dennis (33) for 4 years. We live in Chicago and I work at the University of Illinois. We have a wonderful son James born 5/26/06 who still nurses about 2x/day. James was breech and ended up a scheduled c-section :( despite our best efforts to turn him. (Btw, if anyone wants a very complete list of things to do to turn a breech baby 7 months from now let me know).

I had been planning on a drug-free delivery in a hospital with a CNM with James. My mom is also a CNM and was going to be my acting doula (I decided I'd rather have her for support than doing the dirty work). We'll try again this time. I'm seeing a different CNM now (not that James being breech was the first one's fault - though I wish we had been more aggressive in getting him to turn earlier) and am planning a VBAC at a birthing center.

I was astonished to discover that I was pregnant. We thought all along that having kids 2 years apart would be nice but with James still nursing and no AF in sight, I had no idea how long it would take. I started taking Vitex in August to see if I could coax my body into ovulating. Lo and behold, I managed to get pregnant with the first postpartum egg and am due June 12! So now I'm looking forward to probably 4+ years with no AF (2 have already passed) which makes me very happy :) Fortunately, I started charting temps on a hunch about 5 days before I ovulated, so I was able to pinpoint the date.

When kid #2 (who has now officially been dubbed "Svetloco" - a cross between Svetlana and Paco - the two names I joked that we'd name the baby if it were a girl or boy) comes along I'm planning on taking the summer off and then going back part time next year (basically just enough hours to keep my lab from falling apart) - tenure be damned.

[Summertime Mommy]

Hi! It's taken me a while to post, but I've been lurking for a few days. :)

My name is Jennifer, I am 25 and a mother of 4. I just found out last weekend that I am pregnant again. It was a total shock, but I am kind of getting used to the idea. I just got accepted into a university to begin my bachelors, and dh will be starting his masters soon, so this isn't exactly the best timing, but I am sure that it will work out.

Things are going pretty well so far, I have a midwife and am planning on giving birth at a birth center. I am really excited about it, becasue I will be giving birth with the same midwife group that my mom used when I was born, and since this will be my last, I feel like it will be a nice way to end this part of my life.

I hope everything is going well for you ladies and we all get to know each other better.

[AmyA]

Hi ladies!

I'm Amy, married to Shane, mama of 4 wonderful boys. DS1 is 8yrs old & homeschooled. DS2 is nearly 3 and then DS3&4 are almost 2 year old twins.

This is a surprise but a very happy one! After a nighmare c/s with my twins we are hoping for a homebirth but our insurance may cause us to seek out the birth center. DS1 & 2 were both hospital births DS1 was what I call my uninformed birth, DS2 was a fairly nice midwife attended bith but still had more restrictions that I dont want to deal with again!

I have never been too active on MDC but I am hoping smaller atmosphere of a DDC will be nice!

We are very anxios to know how many babies are in here but we will hold out and take a peek some time after 20 weeks.

Looking forward to getting to know you all!

[GhostRose]

I'm Mary (36), married to Dale (34) for just over 3 years now. We just found out this weekend that we're expecting #2. Our DS is Ronan, who's just about 20 months. I'm a network engineer and Dh is a project manager/senior programmer. Ronan is a geek in training. :wink

We planned on a natural birth in the hospital birthing center, but after 36 hours of labor with no end in sight, we ended up with an emergency c/s. I'm considering VBAC, since my midwife promotes them. But honestly, I think it's gonna come down to where things are sitting towards the end (like how big this one is, position, etc). The risks involved with possible rupture scare me a bit, considering how haywire my first birth went... :dizzy:

We've been TTC on and off for about a year. We really didn't think it would happen this month, since Dh has been out of town most the time and the timing wasn't quite right, but we're not complaining!

Looking forward to getting to know everyone! :jumpers:

[Chryseis]

Bumping this thread to add my introduction.

My name is Candace and I have been married to my husband Mark for a little less than 2 and a half years. We have a 20 month old daughter named Molly.

This baby was kind of a planned surprise, just as our daughter was. With our daughter, we decided to start "trying" on our honeymoon (May '05). By June we had our first positive pregnancy test. We were surprised but thrilled. This baby is a pretty similar story. I had my IUD removed at the end of August and by last Monday I had my first (faint) positive pregnancy test. We're both crossing our fingers that things go well as we just didn't expect this to happen so quickly, it just doesn't feel like we could be so lucky twice.

My daughter was a C/S after a pretty long labor and a couple of hours of pushing. About 2 hours into pushing I felt all 11 pounds of her just move into a very wrong, not so comfortable position. After a couple more hours of pushing in every position possible (with a spasming and twitching leg due to her being on a nerve) we went ahead w/the C/S. The recovery and healing was actually pretty darn quick and easy for me, which I didn't expect. However, I so do not want to do THAT again. We are definitely working toward a VBAC this time.

[Stayathomemommy]

HI Everyone!!

I am in a pure state of shock. I dont know why, we do NFP and lately have not done it well and every month we joke that i am preggo. But now that i see the two pink lines i am floored!

I am 26, DH and I have been married 7 years. I'm a Catholic Homeschooling mom of 4........well now 5 (wow thats weird to even write down!) I have a DD who is 6 almost 7 years old, twin DD's that are 4, and a 17 month old DS.

I am due June 23rd but i usually go at least 2 weeks overdue with singletons. Thats assuming this is a singleton!!!! AHHH, what if its twins again???

We are not telling anyone, well at least no one who wouldnt be happy for us. a lot of family would freak out so we wont tell them till we absolutely have to.

OK gotta go, i am going away for a special weekend without kids or DH!!! Now i really need the relaxation more then ever as i process this. Can't wait to get to know you all.

Angela

[Lizafava]

Hi all! I got my BFP this morning, and my EDD is June 30th. I thought about the July group, but DS was 2 weeks early, so I figured my best bet was June :)

I am Linsey, and I've been with my partner for six years. We have one little guy named Hugo who turned two in September. I am 28 DP is 35. DP is getting his MSW right now, so we are super excited this one is due to arrive in the summer while he is on break. I am a doula, and an apprentice and student midwife.(AAMI) I'm going to take a long (permanent!?) break from hospital doula work after my next clients are due, but am still unsure about how I will handle apprenticing with a new babe.

Lets see ..... I like gardening, hiking, raising chickens, living in the city, and riding my bike.

We had a homebirth with a midwife last time, and I am thinking about having a UC this time, or a semi-UC. We'll see!

I am so excited to be here!

[suzysprite]

Hey all! I took a test last week, and it was negative, but i knew I was really pregnant, you know? So I took another one two days ago, and it was very very positive. That makes me happy, because with my other two pregnancies, I never got a line as fat and dark. Both of those ended in miscarriage, so I'm cautiously excited about this pregnancy, but scared out of my wits. :o

Meanwhile, I'm exhausted all the time, and i feel like someone snuck into my room last night, stuffed sacks of dimes into each boob, and fed me bad clams. I guess that's a good sign or something. :lol

Anyway, i'm so happy to be here!

[Jeanne_L]

Hi everyone. I've read some but not all of these introductions. (I'll get back to them later when I've got some more time.) My name is Jeanne. DH and I have been TTC #2 for a couple of months now... I was looking at the calender yesterday and realized I was on day 39 since AF... so I POAS this morning and got a BFP. Yippee!!! We have a 22 mo ds, and we live on a small farm outside of Madison, WI. Planning another homebirth and super excited for this journey. I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you mamas here.

[anarchamama]

Hello!

I'm Heather, student/SAHM to two little boys. I'm due with #3 on June 25th. I'm still super anxious about this pregnancy because I had 2 m/c's between my 2 sons, so I'm really loking forward to the 2nd trimester.

I am not a very nice pregnant woman as I really don't like it, but I love little babies, and I'm trying to enjoy this one as it will be my last.

DP is Patrick, we have been together for almost 8 years, he's a high school teacher, and kung fu fighter extrodinaire.

Cheers

[heatheraddley]

Hi! I'm Heather and I am 24 years old. I live in Richmond VA with my SO Nick and our 2 year old daughter Hayden.

I just found out that I am pregnant with baby #2. I had my IUD removed September 17th, got my period September 20th and conceived 3 days after it ended. It was a very pleasant surprise. I am due around June 26th 2008.

We are going to have a homebirth with an amazing midwife that all of my friends have used. When I was pregnant with Hayden we had just moved to Richmond. It was a lonely friendless pregnancy (who knew it could be so hard to make friends!). I had a non medicated vaginal birth in the hospital. This time around is going to be so different. I now have many amazing friends and know a lot more resources. Needless to say I am very excited.

Hayden is still nursing and I still plan to let her self wean. We will probably end up tandem nursing, which is just fine with me! I am excited for our family bed to grow as well!

I am a WAHM. I do lettering for a comic book company. I also started a local group called "Natural and Attachment Parents of Richmond", it has really taken off. I also do free lance photography.

[Twwly]

Hi all. My name is Ashley. I'm 26 years old. I have a degree in fine art and work from home doing photo retouching and graphic design. My husband (married 1.5 years, known eachother for +10) owns a tattoo shop and we live together on a lovely little 50 acre homestead. DS is 12.5 months.

I'll be nursing while pregnant and tandem nursing. We will continue to cosleep and have our king size bed arrives tomorrow. I can't wait.

We had planned a homebirth for DS but had to transfer to hospital and it was a horrible experience. One I will be doing everything in my power not to repeat. I'll be giving birth at home with a MW this go 'round.

We have a giant garden and grow (and store) a lot of our own veg. We also keep chickens and will be getting into goats this spring before the babe comes so that we can get DS some tasty raw organic goat milk. We are very committed to organic, local eating and keeping our environmental footprint as small as possible.

Much to the continual surprise of our friends and relatives, we live a very happy life without things like cellphones, cable tv or a microwave!
;)

[MamaHen2J&J]

Aloha mama's!!

Newbie here!!

Hoping to make some friends with similar due dates!!

[greenbeing]

Hello! I'm Meredith, mama to 3yo Miles, and wife to hubby for 8yrs.

I'm still shaking my head and getting all bubbly inside when I think about being pregnant again. This one came as a total surprise:D When I took the test, I was just "checking" to make sure I wasn't pregnant. I looked at it, thought cool, not pregnant, placed it on the counter, looked at it again, saw the plus sign, looked at the box, What??!!!?!?. Took another test that morning and another the next day, all positive :lol

I look forward to getting to know you all!!

[TugboatAnnie]

Hi everyone,

I'm a newbie here, been hanging out on the Not Mamas Yet thread for a while, but I guess I've (knock on wood) graduated! Married to my partner of six years, we decided the time was right this summer and two months later, here I am. Quicker than I thought it would be -- I guess all that birth control wasn't a waste all those years!!

I'm thrilled & nervous & full of questions, as this is our first. Still trying to convince myself it's really happening, though I'm pretty sure five HPTs wouldn't lie. Also, as a pp said -- breasts stuffed full of dimes and fed bad clams? Yeah, that's me. :o

I look forward to getting to know everyone here better!

--Annie

[BaMo]

Hello all!

I'm still in a pretty big state of shock right now. This is our first and I have some many thoughts/questions running through my head right now.

DH & I are both 29. I'm in PR and DH is in the military and is currently away right now. We will be moving at the end of the year, so I'm sure that is going to play into how we go about finding the right birthing options for us. Plus, with being on Tricare, we are going to have to jump through a lot of hoops to get a midwife. :(

[Qerratsmom]

Hi mama's, just signing in. This is my third pregnancy, and while we are excited I am feeling pretty hormonal, tired and yuck, lately. We are planning our first homebirth, woo hoo!

[elfinbaby]

Hi,
I'm April. Found out a week ago I'm pregnant with #4! It's kind of surreal. Very unexpected. Dh doesn't know yet:blush He's really going to be shocked. I don't even know what to think. Anyhoo, we're in Austin with our 9 yr. old ds, and two dds 5 yrs. and 4 yrs. in 2 weeks. I'm a sahm, hsing ds. The girls go to preschool for now.

We'll be homebirthing - we have for all the kids except ds was born in a freestanding bc. I used Hypnobabies last time and will again. The first 2 were Bradley babies but things change and I like HB much better.

April

[elysium269]

Hi All,
I'm new to the board---well I've been an occaisional lurker, but have never found the time.

I'm Amy. I'm 30, married to my long-time sweetheart who I've known for 12+ years and have been married to for 6, Jon. We had our first daughter in November 2003. She was delivered in a hospital after a normal pregnancy, normal delivery, with an unwelcomed epidural, which at the time I felt like I needed, but in retrospect, I was uneducated. Shortly after her birth she was whisked away to the NICU for brachycardia, the scariest experience of my life. She was luckily only there for about 16 hours, but I never ever wanted to relive that again, especially when I feel like that never would have happened if I'd been more proactive about my birth. (no epidural, no allowing them to take her away to the nursery in the first place, which they said was standard procedure--even though I was balling my eyes out)

So with my second, I had a wonderful wonderful birth with a super fabulous midwife and a even more super fabulous doula. Allison was born in August 05 in the water about an hour and a half after I got to the hospital. We left the same day to go home. My older daughter witnessed the whole birth and it was so beautiful. I tandem nursed them for the first time an hour after she was born.

I'm expecting my 3rd baby in late June of 08. We're very excited. I think I'm about 6 weeks. I'm not sure what kind of birth I'd like--probably another waterbirth in the hospital. My husband is not on board with a homebirth and his discomfort and my nagging fear is enough to probably not make a good experience for either of us. I'm just nervous, because we've moved, and my midwife has switched hospitals and is 40 mins away now. Hope I make it!

Before being a SAHM, I taught high school English for 5 years. I hold a Masters in Educational Technology, and I'm currently thinking about letting my license slide because it expires in June and I don't want to take 6 hours of classes....I don't know if I will or will not go back to teaching, but it's not going to happen anytime soon.

I'm glad to be on the board, and hearing about other mamas....It's nice to have some like minded AP support!

[PiesandAbrosmama]

So surprise :dizzy: we just found out were expecting babe #4 at the end of June! Yikes! I was actively (using BC) trying not to concieve and both DH and I were researching to snip or not snip ect. I need encouragment that I can handle 4 under 8 years old and that my family will be nice and not harsh, which is what I expect the reaction to be.
All my babes have been born at home as I am a second generation homebirther with midwives. I live in KY currently where midwives can't practice at home legally. I love pregnancy and birth and newborn babes. I just thought we felt content with our household size. Anywho that's the little nut shell I am looking forward to talking with you mama's.
Sarah

[LianneM]

Congrats to all the other June mamas! Seems like a big group :)

I'm Lianne, due at the end of June. DS was born at 40w5d so I may go into July :lol DS was born at home in water and I plan to use the same midwife this time around. We have since moved into a new house so I'm excited about having more space and options for walking around during labor.

DS is almost 33 months old and still nursing, co-sleeping, etc.

So far the morning sickness is getting the best of me :( I just hope it goes away soon, I can't imagine dealing with this for another 6 weeks!

[Moonprysm]

I'm Tiffani. :) I'm 22, and DH and I will be celebrating our 4th anniversary in a week and a half.

I had a m/c at 17, then another after 5 months of trying with DH for DS. I have PCOS and was ovulating maybe 4 times a year. I was put on metformin after 8 months of trying, and got pregnant that cycle with DS.

I planned a UC with him, but ended up with pre-eclampsia at 35 weeks and was induced. I still managed a pain-med free labor of only 5 hours before DS was born. :)

I "induced" my cycles to return when DS was 14 months with vitex. Amazingly, I started ovulating immediately, EVERY CYCLE. My cycles were extremely long (45 days) but also consistent, which is something that has never happened in my life. I was told that having DS could possibly cure my PCOS, but I hadn't dared to hope.

Because of my consistent cycles where I didn't ovulate until CD26 or so, I wasn't really paying attention to my fertility signs until around day 14 or so. DH and I dtd on day 10, and I happened to ovulate on day 14. I didn't bother to say anything to DH, because I mean, 4 days is a LONG shot. And yet, here I am!

When I first saw the lines I started crying and asked DH if he was mad at me. lol It figures he finally decides to let me try NFP and I end up pregnant. But he wasn't mad, and actually said he was hoping to start trying the following cycle anyway.

It's still unreal to me. After having to try for so long and be on medication to get pregnant with DS, I never thought I'd expirence a surprise baby. I have NO symptoms. I've taken probably 15 tests because I have to keep making sure I'm still pregnant. I'm so beyond psyched because it's the exact timing I wanted between my children. But it's just so hard to believe.

We're going for our UC again. I'm eating protein like mad this time. I will not end up in the hospital. :)

[Moonprysm]

Hi! I'm Heather and I am 24 years old. I live in Richmond VA with my SO Nick and our 2 year old daughter Hayden.

I just found out that I am pregnant with baby #2. I had my IUD removed September 17th, got my period September 20th and conceived 3 days after it ended. It was a very pleasant surprise. I am due around June 26th 2008.

We are going to have a homebirth with an amazing midwife that all of my friends have used. When I was pregnant with Hayden we had just moved to Richmond. It was a lonely friendless pregnancy (who knew it could be so hard to make friends!). I had a non medicated vaginal birth in the hospital. This time around is going to be so different. I now have many amazing friends and know a lot more resources. Needless to say I am very excited.

Hayden is still nursing and I still plan to let her self wean. We will probably end up tandem nursing, which is just fine with me! I am excited for our family bed to grow as well!

I am a WAHM. I do lettering for a comic book company. I also started a local group called "Natural and Attachment Parents of Richmond", it has really taken off. I also do free lance photography.

Hi Heather! Good to see you on here. Hehe. So excited we're due on the same day! Yippie!

[mamachiro]

Wow! There's a lot of us out there...

I'm Amy, mama to Levi (6.5) and Mariah (3.5), and growing baby #3, apparently about the size of a blueberry this week. :) DH (Dan) and I have been together for 11 years, married for 9.

Levi was born when I was halfway through chiropractic school (too late to turn back, or I would have been tempted to stay home forever). I took two quarters off and reveled in his baby yumminess before going back and starting the crazy balancing act. I got pregnant with Mariah just before graduation, and she was born in the middle of my first year of practice. Like I tell them everyday, becoming a mama was far and away the most important thing I've ever done!

I also absolutely LOVE my work, and can't imagine life any other way, despite the craziness! My office is blocks from home, and I set my own hours, and get to work with incredible families every day.

We were very set with two... and planning some serious traveling in the years to come. I would joke with them that I couldn't have another baby because I was out of hands for holding, arms for hugging, and only have two halves to my lap... I wasn't going to be one of "those" mamas who accidentally got pregnant with number 3 :laugh:... until, I did!

So, I'm coming around, though it's taking some time. I guess the universe just had other plans for me. Interestingly, I lost my dad just over a year ago after a long battle with cancer (another story for another day... i'll just say it was and is devastating), and this baby is due on his birthday!

I look forward to connecting with all you other mamas out there, and wish you well.

BTW, I'm due June 20 and swear I'm already showing...

Namaste.

[JenAsayKwa]

Hey all!

My name's Jen, and I'm a 37 year old going through my first (and hopefully only) pregnancy. I underwent donor insemination, so I'm just so thrilled it worked before I went completely broke :)

The ultrasounds I had at the fertility clinic had me a bit worried, as the gestational sac was small for the dates, but yesterday I had my first OB appointment, and according to their US, everything is just fine. So I feel I can finally celebrate!

My due date is a few days +/- my own birthday (depending on whether you count by LMP or by date of conception). It will be the best birthday present ever!

I'm a bit of a private person, so I don't know how much I'll end up sharing here. But you all look like good people, so I think I'll hang out for a while.

[messy mama]

Hello everyone.

I'm Heather and I'm finally feeling like I can announce my pregnancy. I'm hoping like mad that this baby will stay with me.

I already have two amazing boys. Alec is almost 9 and Mason is 4. We haven't told them yet, I want to wait awhile still. After the first loss my 4 y/o would hug and rub my tummy everyday and say, "I wish you still had a baby in your tummy." I want to do everything in my power to never let him feel that sadness and disappointment again. They don't even know about the second loss. But I am getting anxious, because I know they are going to be soooo excited and happy.

It seems I'm due around the 18th.

I'm hoping for a healthy and happy nine months for everyone!!

[KrisCrunch]

My name is Kris (seems to be a popular name around here, lol). I am due June 19th with #2! It was very planned. I have been married almost 5 years and have a 16 month old daughter. We wanted kids close in age. I was hoping for another girl but I just *know* this will be a boy. With my daughter we went pink crazy and I really don't want to have to buy new stuff. I love to crochet and plan to make the new baby everything it needs over the next few months.

My last pregnancy I saw an OB and they talked me into believing I was high risk because of early spotting and hormone levels. I had a natural hospital birth but it wasn't easy. The doctor kept tempting me with an epi and scared me with a c-section (my water was broke too long). He also told me my baby was really tiny. She was 8 lbs 13oz. Thsi time I am seeing a midwife and doing an U/A homebirth.

I am also new to the site and don't know all the lingo yet.

[SageR]

Hi there, I'm Sage. I'm 32 and a sahm. Before having my baby I was a preschool teacher. My due date is the 7th.

I've been married to Jesse for 5 years. We are proud parents to dss Aidan and ds Liam. We practice ap, cloth diaper, co sleep, and Liam has been breast fed from birth and is still going strong!

This is my second pregnancy. My first was wonderful, I felt great the entire time, saw a cnm, labored in comfort at home at first. But after about 12 hours laboring in the hospital, and pushing for 3 hours with all the attempts to get the baby out naturally failing, Liam was born via emergency c section with the most unreal cone head I've ever seen. I guess he was really stuck in there! It was pretty traumatic, especially because I never even considered that anything would go wrong. It was a rough recovery too.

Needless to say this time I'd really like a vbac but my cnm/obgyn practice collectively feels like I am one of those few women who really needed her intervention. I guess maybe I am because the direct entry midwives in the area won't take me :gloomy:. So as of now we're scheduled for another c section.

This pregnancy I've been really tired. Up until this week I also had all day morning sickness and no appetite. But I've been able to eat a lot more the past few days and have been feeling much better. I'm looking forward to getting back into our usual routine including daily walks.

Having two boys we'd love to have a girl this time but I think we're having another boy.

[Halfasianmomma]

Hi. I'm Maya and this will be my first pregnancy, if it sticks. I just had a huge dramatic scare with an incompetent emerg doc who told me I was miscarrying last week; we found out he was wrong a few days ago when we saw a heartbeat on the u/s. Turns out I have cysts to go with my pregnancy. Yay!

This pregnancy was sort of planned (been on the pill for 14 years), but we thought it would take a long time for me to conceive considering I'd been on the pill for so long. Guess not!

I'm 30 yrs old, and currently I work in a bank...funny thing is, I'm on contract for a maternity leave replacement! Ooops. Let's hope the contract lasts right up until I give birth...Before this, I studied education (english/religion) and then acting/dancing/singing for many years. Until I met my DH, I performed in films/commercials and taught high school kids on the side. I just recently moved back to Montreal with my DH, who was an amazing photographer. He now works for a large fundraising company. We have with us full-time his wonderful 10 yr old son, KyleLee, and three bouncing kitty kats, Achilles, Hasu and Sakura.

I have yet to have this confirmed by the ob, but I'm supposedly due June 27th.

[Eliseatthebeach]

Hi everyone. I can't remember if I already posted here, I skimmed through the thread and I didn't see anything. I'm such a scatterbrain these days.

Well, I'm Elise and this will be my fourth and likely last baby. I'm excited and sad. I so love being pregnant and all the babyness to follow. I am really enjoying every day with this pregnancy, just as I did with the others. No morning sickness, but I am very tired all the time, I know this will pass. We haven't told the kids yet, maybe in another week or two. They will be very excited, I'm sure. That's all, just wanted to say hi!

[goylesgirl]

Hi, I am finally introducing myself because I really need something to make this real for me. I should be due early June with kiddo #4. I have not really had any symptoms for a few weeks and at 11+ weeks, not really showing anything yet. I was really hoping to hear the heart beat at my midwife apt. yesterday so we could start telling people, but we couldn't hear it, although it seemed something was registering on the machine. She says it is still early though and the baby was probably hiding. I can't get into the OB for a week and a half and I am trying to stay positive, so here I am.

My kids are 11 (boy), 4 (girl), and 2 (girl). This will be my last one. We are planning another homebirth if all goes well.

[Cardinal]

I never introduced myself.
I am Carolyn. I am 28 years old and this is my second child. I have a two year old son named Jonathan. I have had 2 miscarriages, so I am really nervous right now. I am due around the 25th. I can't wait for time to fly because another baby seems so exciting!! I am happy to be a part of such a dynamic DDC. :)

[Trail]

Hello!

My name is Mandi(29), married to DH(30) for 2 years now - and so thankful for his wit and forgiveness these last 2 months!

We tried for our first baby for while and were beginning to wonder if it would ever happen for us. Just before conceiving my ob discovered that my uterus was septate. So far we have beaten the odds (natural conception, healthy implantation, fetal growth is right on schedule), but we are aware of our increased risk for fetal g.r., preterm labor, and breech presentation. Hubbie and I have remained positive and elated about the health of this pregnancy, although we are bummed that it may not be the hands-off worry-free experience we had hoped for.

Our families are thrilled for us and we have felt very loved! I can't wait to get to know all of you and share this fun-tastic experience!

[azdesertrn]

Hi,
I am feeling confident enough to join now. I saw the heartbeat at the doctor's office today. They measured me as 10 weeks today, but I am pretty sure I am 9 weeks 2 days.

I have one 6 yr old son from a prior relationship and this is a planned pregnancy with a new partner- although we certainly didn't think it would happen the first month. Especially since we are both "older". I'm 37 now so I get the lovely AMA written all over my chart. DP is in his 40's.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

Kaye

[mrskennedy]

Ok now me! :D I'm 23. DH is 25, and DS is almost 9MO. DH is unemployed, well I am too, except I do some freelance writing and also some energy healing work. I'm a medical transcription student and will probably be finishing just before babe comes. DS was born UC waterbirth and we're having another UC for sure, maybe it will be a waterbirth again too. Labor was less than an hour with DS, so I don't know what to expect this time... Not concerned either way. I'm having an unassisted pregnancy this time too and I love it! No one to answer to but me. :love We're doing a lotus birth again and not vaxing, etc. Ok what else is there... Cosleeping, or continuing to, as DS still sleeps with us. I'm not having a U/S, but I simply know this babe is a girl! Won't be disappointed if I'm wrong though--how could I be disappointed? :loveeyes I think that's about it... Glad to be here mamas!

[keeganjacksmom]

I'm Emily! 28, married to my hubby for a little over three years. We live in PA but were always west coasters before that...both originally from MT. WE have two kids, a 2 year old son and a 1 year old daughter. This pregnancy was very planned :) I have a BS in chemistry and a MA in Education, but right now I"m a SAHM and run my own kids t shirt business :) It's fun! I'm loving being a SAHM.

We are crunchier than some, not as crunchy as others....I find myself a little too crunchy for other boards but sometimes feel a little apprehensive here, hence my long lurking status :lol: I'm really into babywearing and breastfeeding (though I've had difficulties beyond belief) and cosleeping if the baby likes, no circ if it's a boy (we're not finding out).....I had a natural childbirth with my daughter and hope for it again. I love my OB and had a great hospital delivery and am happy to do it again :) But my last baby came fast so I'm reading a homebirthing book just in case I have an accidental home delivery :lol:

I think that's it! Glad to be here!

:)

[butterfly1001]

New to the group... My name is Aubree, I'm 26. I'm married to a wonderful man, and we have a son who is almost 2, named Colin Carter. We are expecting our 2nd baby mid to late June. I had a typical hospital birth the first time around, and want to do a natural birth center birth this time (we'll actually be discussing a homebirth with the midwives). I'm just hoping to get some great advice on here!

[jane_b]

Hi, I'm Jane. I am 30 years old, and live with my husband, dog and two cats in a tiny condo in Chicago. Not sure where we are going to put this baby! I work full time as a counselor for children who have witnessed abuse, and am in grad school part time for a social work masters. Needless to say, I'm having a hard time trying to think about all of these things at once!

I am due mid June and super excited! This will be our first child and the first grandchild on both sides of our families.

We are trying to figure out what we want to do birth-wise. I love my ob, and even though the hospital is great, I'm a little bit scared. We're thinking about working with a doula, but not sure about the cost of that.

Yes, lots to think about!

[akl7248]

I'm Amanda, 28, and pregnant with #3, who will arrive around the end of June. I have a 3.5 year old girl and a 16 month old boy. DD was born in an army hospital, almost completely naturally (I say almost because once I was admitted at 7 cm, I had continuous EFM and IV fluids :eyesroll). DS was born in a free-standing birth center, and it was so wonderful. We went home 6 hours after he was born! This baby will be born at home, though I live in a state where CPM's are illegal.:irked: I'm still nursing ds, and wonder if he will continue throughout the pregnancy or if he will wean like my dd did when I was pregnant with him. She was a more frequent, intense nurser, so I was somewhat surprised she weaned, so I'm doubting that ds will last through the dry spell when it gets here. But who knows? I am open to tandeming, but honestly, I don't really want to. I really think it would drive me insane, but I'm not to the point where I want to push weaning. So I'm going to see what happens and roll with it. :o

[Jazzmin]

Ooops, apparently I haven't introduced myself yet :innocent I guess I did that before we had a DDC.

My name is Jazzmin, DH is Troy. This will be our third baby. We have a 8yo DS, Collin and a 19 month old DS, Owen. This baby was semi-planned and we were pretty shocked that it happened so fast, considering my periods were really out of whack due to nursing. I (and sometimes we) hope to have a home birth. The first two were at a hospital. The births went fine and I was treated well, but I would like to experience birth at home (this is probably our last child). Yeah, so, I think that is about it.

[mamatosaskia]

Hi,

I thought I had introduced myself, but I guess not. I did see my name in the due date list, so I must have said something to someone at some point :dizzy:

I am Jacqueline, 33 and expecting #2. I had a blighted ovum in January/February and another very early (5 weeks) miscarriage in July. My cycles had been wacky so I went to a chinese herbalist/accupuncturist and that, along with vitamin b, seemed to do the trick. I am due June 26th. My dd's 4th birthday is June 23rd!! I always wanted my kids 4 years apart, and I can't believe how literal that will be.

I had a drug-free vaginal birth with dd in a hospital (with a midwife). I truly had the most awesome labor and I am looking forward to doing it again. However, my pregnancy was not complication-free! I had a placental abruption that required hospitalization and bedrest (ugh!!) So far, no spotting in this pregnancy and I am thinking only happy thoughts.

Oh, I am also a second year PhD student at the UW in Seattle. My dh is an architect and we are college sweethearts. We will be married 9 years this coming July. We are only planning on two kids, so I am trying to enjoy this last walk down pregnancy lane!

I think that is about it. I look forward to learning about you gals as these pregnancies progress.

Jacqueline

[oona]

Hi! I'm late to the party!

I've been spending time on a different set of message boards, but I was getting sick of feeling like some crazy hippie for planning a hospital birth with a CNM and no drugs :eyesroll . I'd rather feel like the LEAST enlightened person here (although if you saw my bathtub you'd understand why there's no way in heck I'd ever want to labor in it, and the hospital has gorgeous private rooms with tubs and birthing balls).

I'm 25, as is DH, and we're expecting our first kiddo sometime around June 21st. It'll be the first grandkid for either of our families, so everyone is super excited. I'm counting down the days!

[rpar003]

Hi,

I thought I should introduce myself as I join in. I'm 31 and this is my 2nd baby. We lost one earlier in the year, and this was not quite planned. But I've more or less given up planning my own life anyway! I have one super adorable DD who is the joy of my life, and a wonderful DH. I'm a glorified secretary/PA - basically I'm get to be bossy for a living :wink DH and I both work part-time and split looking after DD.

Rachael.

[Xpcting#3]

My name is Katy, and I'm 39, expecting #3 in mid-June. DH and I are experiencing "secondary fertility", it seems - it took three years of really trying to conceive #1, then #2 and now #3 have come as surprises in rapid succession.

#1 was planned to be a waterbirth, but became a c/s because he was breech. #2 was a wonderful hospital VBAC. We've moved to a more rural and less progressive area, and I'm jumping hoops to get another VBAC.

[ArwenA]

I'm Arwen, 28 year old mom to three girls and expecting twins in late June. It took a long, long time to conceive ( about five months) this time, but I'm getting two! This is my first pregnancy with my soon-to-be hubby and I'm hoping all goes well.
After having a homebirth with my youngest I never want to do it in a hospital again but I think that I will be this time as I have yet to find anyone who has homebirthed with twins.

Arwen

[elisharenee]

I have been lurking a while, and I have made a few post but I guess I should actually post an into! :wink


My name is Elisha. I am 27 wife to Stephen..We have two boys ( Dillon 2-99 and Brenden 4-03) and a our third baby is due June 19th ( my birthday! )
Stephen and I are highschool sweethearts and have been married almost 7 years. I look like a child myself so I get lots of weird looks from other parents. :irked:

My boys were both born at a hospital with way to many annoying people around and I hated it. I had horrible episiotimies and the nurses made a joke of me when I tried to go natural. This baby is being born at a lovlet birthing center with a great midwife. I plan on a waterbirth as well. I hope it all works out. Glad to be apart of this group!

[franjapany]

So, I wrote this really long introduction the other day and then the system broke down or whatever - it got lost. I guess it was just too long anyway :blah ... :lol

I'll try to keep it short and sweet this time:

I'm Franziska, 29, German/Austrian, partner to Joi, 49, living in Thailand. This is our first baby and it was kind of planned. I'm an ex-waldorf student (all the way from kindy to A-levels) and graduated in psychology in '06, Berlin. At the moment I really miss Berlin... though not the weather. I don't miss the weather at home :shake :lol

We're going for home birth/ UC. There is just no way I'm gonna trust any Thai doctor with my birth, sorry! And I will have support from a wonderful fairy whom I met on MDC :) :hug :)

Okay, I think that should do for now (after all the juicy details got lost in cyberspace :rolleyes ). I just coincidentally stumbled over this commune (never read the magazine) so I'm only slowly starting to get the hang of it (and all the abbreviations). That's why it also took me until now to post an introduction...

Anyway, I'm glad this community exists and I can be part of it! It can get pretty lonely over here, so MDC has already been a great support.

:Thanks :stillheart

[beanmakes3]

Hi, I'm Tracy! I've just joined up at the recommendation of my sister who was a member of the due date club for her DD's birth in '05. She loved it, and so I thought I'd join.

I've been married to my husband for 7 years, and we have two beautiful boys ages 6 and 3. This pregnancy was planned, but has been a bit of a challenge given how our lives have changed in the last 2 years. I graduated last year, and am just started to practice as a clinical psychologist independently. Since I was a grad student when I had the boys, I seriously underestimated how tired I would be just from working full time and being pg, nevermind having two active boys thrown into the mix.

Things I like to do are scrapbook (not in the nutty way...just baby books for the boys that might look different from what's available for purchase out there)...running is a new thing...althought I haven't done much since getting pg this time, since I had a previous mc, and was anxious.

Another reason I joined is that I'm finding that being pg w/ my 3rd that there aren't many ways to connect w/ other moms who are having their 3rd, etc (or sometimes even their 2nd). I find many services for pg women are geared more for first timers, and I learned w/ my second that some of those groups are not a good fit, especially if one does not parent in a mainstream way. E.g., DS#1 has anaphylaxis to multiple foods (milk, egg and peanut), so we are very conscious about what we eat on many levels including an interest in vegan baking and cooking.

That's about it...Looking forward to getting to know the group.

Tracy

[mamaspirit]

So I posted my own thread introducing myself before I saw this thread. Like I said I'm pregnant with my 3rd baby, although I have had 3 first trimester m/c. I'm due with this one June 9. I have 2 boys ages 8 years and 16 months. My husband is a nurse, and I just finished nursing school, but am now a SAHM.

With my first I had a natural hospital birth. With my second I had a c-section, the cause is a LONG story that has to do with the incompetencies of several doctors and nurses, etc. We are planning a home VBAC with this one, which we are very excited about.

We are organic vegetarians, cloth diapering, green, energy healers, getting crunchier by the day.

Looking forward to sharing this journey with all of you!
Tara

[topmom]

I have been lurking for a while and finally decided to register so I could post.

I am Lori 41 years old and expecing our 5th little bundle in mid-June.

I have been married to Joey for near 21 years. He recently retired form the military, and now works for the PO.

We have 4 beautiful Children so far...Zach 19, Ashleigh 17, Michaela 7, and Liberty 3. Yes they are all ours ... Michaela, Liberty and baby "pancake" are reversal babies.

My first 2 were hospital babies with whatever military doc/CNM was on-call. Very medically oriented births. As they got older I started educating myself due to problems my son was having. Michaela was a hospital birth with a CNM who "talked the talk" of natural childbirth but "when push came to shove" (pun intended) turned out to be a MEDwife. It was a very traumatic experience for me. By the time Liberty came along DH consented to a homebirth and it was the best experience ever. We are planning a homebirth this go-around too.

We are a Christian, homeschooling, breastfeeding, non-circing, non-vaxing family. (among other things)

I enjoy scrapbooking and my family.

Y'all probably won't see too much of me but I thought it would be nice to have a place to hang out and have people supportive of our birthing choices.

[hmberhalter]

Hi! My name is Heather, and I was over in the July DDC, but after an u/s today, I've been bumped up to June! So, I'm a little late coming to your group, but I am elated to have a month knocked off my pregnancy in just one short office visit!

I'm 35 and have been married to my husand Jay for 3 1/2 years. We have a 2 1/2 yr old son who is currently running around the house half-naked w/a paint brush in hand, so I'll have to keep this short. He was born naturally in a hospital. It was a nice quick birth--4 hr labor and 2hrs pushing, but my hospital experience was not great. So, if I can convince DH, we'll be having a homebirth this time. I'm currently seeing a homebirth midwife--so unless he gets really freaked at some point, homebirth it is. I'm also hoping to try hypnobabies or some similar program this time around.

We're a mostly vegan family. We do it primarily for health reasons, so I have occasionally had some egg whites on the days when I feel like I just can't get enough protein. But generally, this is a vegetables only household.

DS was nursing a lot up until recently. Now my milk has completely dried up, and he and I have struggled a lot with the transition. I have to say that has been the hardest part of this pregnancy. It's been 36 hrs though since he last "nursed," so I guess that's the direction we're heading.

otherwise, things are good. I am completely shocked about being moved to 6/21 from a 7/18 due date, but hey that means I'm that much closer to meeting the new little one, so yeah!

[noahandlinasmom]

Hello, Donna here. Wife to wonderful husband Cody and mom of two little ones, with of course one on the way! Due June 11, husbands birthday. We are having another boy.

[blessedmom68358]

Hello! I posted a basic intro on the main June DDC board before, but thought I might as well here, too. ;) Being new, I don't have all of the MDC lingo down yet, nor have I worked out a sig.

You can call me Meli. I'm a blessed wife of going on 13 years to my DH and we have four, great kiddos together (two boys and two girls, consecutively)...with our fifth beautiful baby bean EDD 6/25/08. We are pretty sure of what we're having (but keeping it our happy secret) and also excitedly planning our first hopeful homebirth!

As for me, I guess you could say I'm not 100% crunchy nor am I mainstream. I'm kind of all alone (so it feels sometimes...lol) in the middle somewhere. I breastfeed (25mo still nursing when she wants to), co-sleep early on (until they're ready to move), and for the past year, we have decided not to vax...undecided yet if we'll ever do any selective ones again down the road? My DH and I also homeschool ("officially" began with oldest in 2001)...been more 'unschool-y' than not this year...and we're a Christian family. We're new to our area so working on making friends locally (not easy...but finally making progress!). I also like to connect with mamas out here on the WWW. :)

I'm already active on another board and quite busy, so may be more of a lurker here, but wanted to say, "Hi!" I hope you all don't mind if I jump in sometimes.

[SonyaG]

Hi, my name is Sonya. I am 35 and this is my first pregnancy. I am due on June 20th. My DH and I have been trying for so long, and we finally broke down and went for a consult at a fertility clinic. We were scheduled to come back to start lab tests the following month- and when we came back- I was pregnant!

I still can't believe it- except the morning sickness (which I still have) is all too real : )

Glad to meet you all!

[Tiffanoodle]

Hi ladies! I thought I'd introduce myself, since I've been kind of lurking here and in all likelihood I will be delivering in June.

You can see most of my info in my siggy, but my name is Tiffany. I've been married for 8 1/2 years to a wonderful man, Matt. We have 2 children, Samantha and Tevin. Plus, we have a cat and 2 big dogs. Sage is a 100 pound purebread German Shepherd and Casey is an 80 pound Siberian Huskey/Lab mix.

We met in college, got pregnant 3 months after we started dating :o and got married when I was 6 months pregnant. Needless to say, she was very unplanned and we conceived VERY quickly. That's why it was a huge surprise when it took over a year and a half to conceive #2. I had done 3 rounds of the depo provera shot. If there's ever a lawsuit against them, I'm first in line because I truly believe it screwed me up forever. We got our boy and we were elated. However, I never felt our familiy was complete. I've always wanted 4 or more children, but that's still under debate with my husband who until we had ds, only wanted 2. :wink We never did any form of birth control after having ds, and it took us 2 years from the point we started actively ttc this time. It was long and depressing with many very faint positives and high hopes with miscarriages before implantation. This time, though, I'm 19+ weeks and still goin' steady. :)

Dd was born via emergency c-section at 41w4d weeks. It's a long story, but I went into labor, contractions stopped, had Pitocin, she got stuck because her head was too big, she was posterior, and she went into distress. So the labor I wanted to be done completely unmedicated ended up being done with me unconscious (no time for an epidural, her stats were dropping too much) but she was healthy, so I guess the end justifies the means?

With ds, my water broke at 37w5d. But again, the contractions weren't progressing anything. After hours of walking and jacuzzi, breaking the water more, and all kinds of fun, we went for the Pitocin. A few hours later my little man flew out after a few pushes.

This time, I'm very fearful of going too long. I don't seem to go into labor on my own nor can I apparently handle a big baby. :( During my d&c this summer, the Dr. said something about my cervix or uterus being "off" or something. I'm not sure, but that could have something to do with it. My OB said she would be comfortable trying induction at 39w this time if I'd like. I think I'd feel more confident that way. Hopefully we won't need Pit, but if we can go for a slightly smaller baby (or more importantly, a slightly smaller head) it will be more likely that I will be able to repeat VBAC. I'm thinking we'll induce on June 27 and in all likelihood have the baby June 28. :D

Sorry this got very longwinded. I'm just so excited to be pregnant again, I feel like I could talk for days. :lol

[Qerratsmom]

Welcome Tiffany!

[UKMum]

Hi,

Just thought I'd post an intro even though I'm a bit late to this board. We moved to Ohio from England last summer and I have to admit to being a bit stuck on my UK forum, but seeing as we're here to stay I thought it was about time I moved my virtual life too, and thought a Due Date club would be a good place to start.

I have a 21 month old daughter who was a home water birth at 40 + 11 and is still BF although I did nightwean her before Xmas. I am due again on 18th June but fully expect this one to be 'late' too, and we found out last Friday that it is a boy. I would dearly love to have another home water birth but with the current situation for midwives in Ohio I have decided to go for a hospital birth this time. I have found a natural birth friendly ObGyn and a great doula who is really helping me to understand how it all works here, and how to get around the system. I won't be able to have a waterbirth at the hospital but can use the tub for labour. I decided that an hour's drive to the nearest birth centre where they do waterbirth could be too much, as my first labour was 12 hours total.

Anyway, look forward to getting to know you all.

Gail

[sunmamma]

:w

[meenajo]

I'm Amoreena, 29 yo homeschooling mama to Lilly 1/03. Although I'm not pregnant, we're expecting #2 in June per the miracle of adoption.

We're doing a domestic open adoption so we've been getting to know the Bmom and been able to be involved in her pregnancy and already know we're having a boy. Been busy talking to lawyers, social workers, trying to re-lactate, etc.

Look forward to chatting w/ y'all!

[Eloise1980]

Hi, I'm Eloise and I'm 27 years old and pregnant with my second child due on 18th June. I work as an artist from a studio at home, my DP of 8 years is a graphic designer and we have one DS who is 3 and a half. We live in London but will be relocating to Scotland in the summer to live on DP's parents farm in view of taking it over. Both of us have a lot of country experience despite being city types and manage to live a fairly self sufficient life even amongst the smog.

I had a very successful homebirth with DS (despite him being almost 10 pounds) and hope to do it again with number 2, whose sex will be a surprise. It's been an exhausting pregnancy this time round and I'm looking forward to it being over.

I did have an account a while back but I have totally forgotten the login so here I am again, anyway nice to meet you!

[Anna GS]

Hello!

I'm new to the Mothering forums.
My name is Anna and I am expecting my first (and maybe only?) with a due date of June 23rd. My husband is a graduate student at UCSD in Computer Science, and I have an MFA in Fine Art, but I work as a Faculty Asst to a group of professors in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering.

We are both vegan and have been for many years. In fact, we found each other through a VeggieDate. We've been married for a little over three years.

We have two cats. One is a mellow chubby old black cat named May. The other, Cayley, is a small feisty calico. She's full grown, but still has a kittenish look.

If all goes as planned, we'll have our son at a local birthing center. I'd love a home birth, but it doesn't seem right to have the baby in our apartment knowing that 1) we will move out of here next year (I'd be more willing if it were our own home); 2) Our neighbors are right on the other side of the wall and would probably hear the entire labor; and 3) the birthing center has nice big tubs for labor and delivery if I should feel like using one.

I love to sew (I'm not very good at clothing, though, so I tend to sew handbags and other similar items) and I love to cook and bake. I read a lot- both fiction and nonfiction. In the past few years I've become a huge fan of all of Joss Whedon's tv shows, although I have really hated television for most of my life (largely due to my aversion for commercials, so dvds have helped).

I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone here!

[SunnieP]

I love this club! Thought I'd formally intro myself even though I've already been posting and hanging out a little...
Live in Pa with DH and DS who is 2.6. Took year off work with #1 and plan to do the same with this one, sex is unknown. Plan birth center birth and having lots more aches/pains/illness {colds/flu/pneumonia} with this one. But I'm starting to see the light at the end and this community helps, too. Big on lactivism, gen. integrity, and all things Peggyesque. Also nutrition and astrology. What else? 3 cats and a mutt.

[bookofsnow]

Hello! I'm also new here!

I happened on here by accident and was excited to find a group that could be of so much use to our family!

I'm 28 years old, and American. My Dutch husband and I are currently living in The Netherlands. We have one son who is 5 in May named Sebastian. He has PDD-NOS but very mild. We're expecting our 2nd child, a daughter who we are naming Zoë on June 25 this year!

We feel like this is a second chance to do things differently. We are not vaccinating, we've discovered BPA free bottles although I'm still debating about trying to breastfeed her if I can. I suppose right now I'm taking it as a 'if God wants me to, he'll give me milk' thing. I had a breast reduction in 1999 and I didn't get anything with my son in 2003 so don't expect to this time. While I'm not into cloth diapering (can admit my limits!) we are planning to use Nature Baby diapers which are available worldwide I think. They are supposed to be better than reg disposables. They also make other products without chemicals and I plan to get those as well.

I was an attached parent with my son and will be with my daughter as well. I have never been comfortable with cry it out, maybe just because I'm weak. I tried cosleeping with my son and he didn't like it and we actually didn't sleep well with him in our bed so we aren't planning to this time. I make up for that with sling time of course!

I wanted a homebirth with my son but once you are 2 weeks overdue here it's not allowed, and you can't have a midwife anymore either :angry I lost too much blood to birth at home this time but I am hopeful that at least the midwife can do the delivery!!!

I'm so glad to be joining you all and I love all your emoticons! I will have to make a signature with them soon!

:sunshineLaura:sunshine

Mom to :bouncySebastian (5/16/03) and pregnant with :girlbaby:Zoë due 6/25/08
:~bangel Brayden (11/12/01) :autism:novax::3rdtri:

[Desert Rose]

Hi, my name is Aisha, I'm 28 yrs old, I am Pakistani-American and I've been married to Ziad, a Lebanese-Egyptian Trekkie, for 10 years. We began TTC 5 yrs ago and I am now expecting our first baby in mid June 2008.

I have been living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the past 10 years. I continue to practice the habits I learned as a kid while growing up in California, like conserving resources where possible, recycling, and making use of local resources like food and clothing rather than rely on imported stuff. My cousin gave birth to her first child last June in California and she really opened my eyes to the world of natural birth and attachment parenting. I am now working with a British midwife at the local gov't maternity hospital to be the first woman to deliver there w/o drugs, episiotomy, enema, and practice skin-to-skin contact, breast-feeding from birth, and "rooming-in".

Following Dubai tradition, I also look forward to the perks of hiring an Indian woman to give me and the baby daily massages at home during the first two months. Recognizing my limits, I do not plan to cloth diaper, but I do plan to breast-feed, co-sleep, and wear my baby in a sling.

[halaroo]

I just realized that I've never introduced myself!

I'm Chrissy. I just turned 31. We are expecting baby #2 on June 23rd. Amelia, my dd, just turned 2. She was two weeks late, planned homebirth to emergency c-section. We are desperately hoping to avoid a repeat of that experience, even though my c-section went really well and I have very few hard feelings over it. It was still my birth experience.

We do not know the sex of this baby. I'm kind of hoping for another girl because I love my little girl so much, but a boy would be wonderful too! This will be our last baby.

I am a SAHM, but I work part-time from home when dd allows. I enjoy yoga, cooking and reading, but lately have spent most of my days sitting in the sand at the park. After the birth of dd, I became an accidental lactivist. I never for the life of me thought nursing a child would be the greatest thing in the world.

[sparrowheart]

Hello all,

I have been on other forums and some how just discovered the due date club, I am pretty new to the forums, so thought it made sense to post an intro here. Its getting a little late now as I am due on/around June 20. But I am glad to be here.

My name is Rebecca and I am having my first baby, I am planning a homebirth with a doula and midwife. I don't know the sex of the baby. I am 37 and having my first, which has its postivies and negatives. I feel fortunate to have had many years traveling and working and finding myself and now I get to share all of that with a DS or DD. I have been married for almost two years and we recently moved from Anchorage, Alaska to Seattle. I am a consultant and work from home, we have moved for my DH's job. Most of my family is in CA so I am getting closer, but not as close as I would like, especially with baby on the way.

I have not met many people here in Seattle, so give a shout out if you are in the area. I am interested in yoga, farming, eating locally and politics, aside from my full time job marketing other people's products. My husband is a bit less liberal than I am so we have many discussions about circ, home birth, naming conventions, etc. So I gravitate to other posts and members who have some of the same issues to resolve in their families.

I plan to cloth diaper, breastfeed and co-sleep. I am glad to be amongst you all and will get a signature together one of these days.

[kltroy]

Welcome Rebecca! Glad you could join us for the last month. My sister lives in Seattle (Fremont) and is expecting her 2nd child this September Seattle's a great town with lots of like-minded people - I hope you enjoy it and get to know some other families soon!

[at_the_hip]

I'm superbly late joining here and introducing myself, but better late than never, right? My babies have all been late too so perhaps it is fitting. :P

I'm a homeschooling mama to 3 girls ages 9, 7 & almost 5. Our 4th girl is due tomorrow. I've been lurking and reading for months now so I kind of feel like I already know quite a few of you...so I thought I should really join in.

My other girls have been born after their due dates, dd9 was 9 days "late" and 8 lbs 9oz...hospital birth with OB, born sunny-side up, epidural for a couple hours, episiotomy.

dd7 was 6 days late and 9 lbs 3oz...hospital birth with midwife, natural, PPH

dd5 was 13 (!) days late and 9 lbs 12 oz, "home" birth with midwife at a local hotel suite, PPH

This one is of course due tomorrow...dh is going for surgery on Friday though so unless the stress pushes me into labor, I'm thinking she'll be at least another week or two. We tried a herbal induction last week but it was a no go...she's not ready.

I hope you don't mind me joining so late, but I could use the friendship of some like-minded mamas.
Cindy

[StacyL]

:w

I added you to the Birth stats sticky at the top of the forum.

[sparrowheart]

Hi Stacy -- can you add me to the birth stats sticky too?!

Due June 20 and hoping for anytime next week!
Thanks:)