[ChildoftheMoon]

Thought we could follow suit and have a pregnant chatty thread like the late fall/winter ucers. I know many of us do not really fit in the due date clubs in the pregnant forums.
Please join in

I am currently 28.5 weeks, excited and happy that my birth time is getting closer!
Brandi

 

[hoppytoad]

Hey... I'm here.

I'm not sure how many weeks I am exactly, but I think we figured out our "due dates" are close.

How are you feeling? Is the summer heat a problem for you? This is my third summer baby, so being big in the dead of summer is nothing new to me. :LOL

I'm getting really excited about having a newborn again. And not needing to cover him/her up so much like I would if I was due in the winter.

 

[ChildoftheMoon]

I am feeling pretty good. Getting more tired and hungry these days though. We got a pool for this summer, one of those 16 ft x 3.5 ft above ground ones, so I am really looking forward to that! This is pregnancy #4 during the summer, so I am no stranger to it! Thankfully so far it has not been too bad, but I do live where it usually stays above 100 degrees during the summer, blech!
I agree, it is really nice not having to worry about keeping a newborn fully clothed. It also makes it nice and easy for drying numerous amounts of cloth diapers. The sun cleans them right up too.
How are you feeling?
Brandi

 

[Skim]

I'm doing well. Due in late July, and this is my first summer pregnancy. The extra heat I'm generating is just soooo... hot! :LOL But I'm just getting used to the 85 degree weather. (yeah it's cool up north!) My brand new garden loves it.

I'm also looking forward to having another newborn around. Although I had my first kind of *OMG* feeling today, since I would be full term in about a month, and due in 6 weeks. Time is just flying now. I still haven't organized the diapers! Or the baby clothes! Or cleaned the basement! I secretly love the urge to organize and purge and clean. It feels right.

And my belly is just wacky. Wish I had some good pics to share, but we are visually disadvantaged (no dig. camera). I'm getting new stretch marks, and this babe is all in my belly, poking right out. With my dd I carried it more all over, but this one is just low and out. Grinds its head joyfully on my cervix and ligaments regularly. And when it's in a bad position, I can't really walk well. All verrry different than #1. But the babe seems so healthy and I feel so good, no breathing problems, nothing but occasional fatigue and impatience with my 3 yo dd sometimes.

Well, enough chatty. Off to read some more...

 

[rainbowmoon]

I am due in 59 days!!!

less than 2 months! I am sort of freaking out nesting right now and sad it's almost over with :LOL but I can't wait to meet my baby either. I am torn. everything with this pg (UP) just feels so right and calm and peaceful.

 

[hoppytoad]

Brandi: I feel pretty good, thanks.

I just need to be careful that my feet don't swell up (something that happened with DS a lot, but didn't bother me last time with DD). Hey, maybe I'm having another boy!

Anyway, I like the idea of doing UP. I would say we're somewhere in between UP and actually using the midwife's services. I've seen the amish midwife I used last time a total of two times so far, and our next visit will be the last. Next time I go, we'll be telling her our plans of UC, which I'm pretty sure will be well accepted. We don't plan to go back after that until the baby is born. I also want to ask her if she'll help us with the paperwork afterwards (birth cert., social sec. card, etc.) just because she already has that stuff on hand. She was pretty awesome when I had DD, I just don't feel the need for her this time. Obviously, I guess, since I'm on this forum.

Changing topics... I'm wishing now that my garden wasn't on a hill. I was so happy in the spring that I could work in it sooner than some other folks around here because it drains so well. Now I hate the thought of walking the whole way up there. :LOL I tend to wait until late afternoon/evening when it starts to cool off, but it's so humid here that it's still a chore. We're in PA, btw.

I'm not as organized as I want to be for this baby. We still need a dresser of some sort and I need to figure out if I need anything extra for the birth that I don't already have on hand.

Anyway, my husband probably wonders why I haven't come to bed yet. I'll stop rambling now.

 

[amandaanne]

Hi

I have been a big lurker in this forum for some time. My due date is July 7 but I'm pretty sure this baby is coming before that, probably the last week of this month. It still seems a little surreal...this pregnancy has gone sooooo fast. I've learned so much about myself during my journey toward UC. The power of it is incredible. So I'm a little sad that it will be over so soon.

But I am getting so excited about laboring and birthing. I don't know what it feels like to experience those things naturally and I can't wait to feel them without drugs or synthetic hormones or uncaring people in the way. I know that OMG feeling though...I have moments of slight panic now and then as I get closer to the birth. But I am feeling peaceful and strong most of the time.

Anyway, I love this forum so much. You ladies have been very inspiring for me during this pregnancy.

I'm more comfortable lurking, but I feel such a pull to be a part of this community. So here I am.

Amanda

 

[hoppytoad]

Welcome Amanda.

I'm typically more of a lurker, too, but this forum has been pulling me out of my shell.

Glad you're here! BTW, my DD's birthday is right around when you're due. Pretty cool.

I haven't had many panicky moments ... guess I'm not close enough to the end just yet.

Can't wait until I get that nesting urge, though. There are so many things that should be done around the house. Speaking of getting things done.... I should be outside right now planting my potatoes!

 

[ChildoftheMoon]

Hey Skim-I am carrying just the same, straight out in front and low! Here is to the nesting kicking in for you!

rainbowmoon-glad to hear everything is going so well and peaceful. The days are definately beginning to slide by!

hoppytoad-we are using our midwife to make it easier on the birth certificate end too. I am also seeing her this pregnancy because I need the extra emotional support. She is very low-key and works out of her home. I think UP is wonderful and admire the strength and wisdom of those mamas taking care of themselves. This being my first pregnancy after losing my daughter, I feel like I needed a little bit of support and ecouragement. Thankfully I have a midwife that is not the norm!

Welcome Amanda! So happy you popped in to say hi.

I am very well, SO hungry! Eating up all the protein I can find. Babe is so active. It is so comforting to me that he is so busy and strong. My angel baby was not much of a mover.
Our weather was warmer today, really enjoyed floating in the pool.

Anyone beginning to make any special preparations for birth? I am wanting to put together a music cd to listen to. My last two births I really enjoyed listening to Dead Can Dance cds. I would like to listen to them again, but would like to be more selective with the songs from them. Not much else I need to give birth. We will make a braided tie for the cord too, not sure if we will need to use it, but I like having one made

Other than having clean towels and sheets and baby clothes and such, I am ready. Don't need much else! I will probably have a fishy pool blown up so it is ready for filling unless I just hop in the tub.
Brandi

 

[hoppytoad]

This has got to be my most active baby yet. I'm constantly feeling all the specific parts, and I can tell what they are much easier than the other two pregnancies. The bigger I get, the more I'm bonding with this baby. Makes the wait until September even more difficult!

Just thought I'd share.

 

[JessJoy]

HI everyone! I'm due with my first sometime in late august or early September. (A Virgo like his daddy, probably. A shovel full of earth on my quadruple Aries fiery heart!) I always say "he" and I've always felt like it was definitely a boy. Even before I knew I was pregnant! But it could be a girl, I guess!

I had a nice relaxing weekend at a lakehouse in North Carolina. On sunday I had terrible indigestion that felt like contractions and lasdted 5 hours. I'm pretty sure they weren't contractions, but I was glad they were coming in waves like that. I said to DH: "I bet this is what going into labor feels like." The only thing that made me feel alot better was floating around the lake in a lifejacket. It was a good affirmation on my choice to water birth.

Anyway... hi everyone!! :LOL

Jess

 

[ChildoftheMoon]

How is everyone?
Brandi

 

[cresorchid]

Hey Amanda! Welcome. I'm due on 7/7 as well. Which is kind of funny because my b-day is 6/6. But I'm also expecting this little one in a week or so.

I'm not at all scared, although I have to admit I'm getting kind of nervous. Fearful that I won't be able to handle the pain-or I will handle it, but not very well. Basically by just refusing to go to the hospital so crying and yelling through it.

Which is pretty silly. I KNOW that it doesn't have to be that way because my son's labor was almost completely pain-free. I guess the reason I'm nervous is that I'm hoping for the same thing or even better, but it could be totally different this time around.

I'm madly sewing diaper wipes at this point-didn't get started until the day before yesterday. Hopefully they will be ready when the baby is here.

Great to see this list.

 

[BinahYeteirah]

Hi everyone.

I'm not really due during the summer, as it is the middle of winter down under, but here I am anyway.

I'll be 35 weeks tomorrow, so my EDD is July 22. My dd was born during July as well (she's nearly 3), but she was gestated and born in the States so I'll have had one summer baby and one winter one.

I am doing pretty well. I am having lots of BH contractions; some of them are more like "real" contractions than BH, too. They feel like baby is pushing down into my cervix and perinial (sp?) area, not just the hard belly feeling I remember from my dd's pregnancy. I am not doing anything special to prepare for the birth. I got together my birth supplies a while ago. These are mostly just leftovers from my first homebirth: some chux pads, a plastic sheet, etc. I also ordered an Eldon card from a birth supply company so I can find out if I want Rhogam without visiting a dr's office. I didn't prepare special music or anything like that for dd's birth, and I didn't find I wanted it either. This time I'm also not doing anything like that... I just want to keep busy with my normal hobbies and chores until I can't any longer. Last time I was in labor, I ordered an air conditioner and air purifiers, washed dishes, and surfed the net. How romantic.

I just got some supplies to make Waldorf dolls in the mail today. I would like to make a little doll for the baby and my dd, but I'm not sure I want to commit to trying to have them done before baby comes. I need to get some more supplies for them, so I don't know when I'll get around to that. I have so many craft projects I want to do (Waldorf dolls, sewing clothes for dd, dyeing clothes, making a cover from baby's bouncy seat, making diapers for baby, etc., etc.). Fun.

I also was thinking of making food to freeze for parties after the birth. I want to make my dd a 3rd birthday party, but we will celebrate around dd's Hebrew birthday, so it won't be until August. I thought I could make the cakes and other foods, but I have never frozen cake before. I wonder if it will keep well. My dh seems to think that frozen food, unless it comes from the grocery store frozen, is gross. For that reason, I am hesitant to make meals for after the baby is born; I have a feeling dh won't want them. If dh thinks something is no good, I start to wonder if he is right, even if it seems perfectly yummy to me. Anyone have any party food ideas (preferably vegan and healthy) that freeze well? I may also make a party for the new baby, but I am not sure how that will go. It depends if the baby is a boy or a girl, as that will affect the timing of the event.

Well, I'm really rambling now... I guess I'm not too focused on the birth itself. I hope to just "go with the flow" as things happen, without too many expectations.

I did tell my mother that I'm having a UC. She asked me straight out, so I told her. I didn't think she'd be freaked out by it, and she wasn't. She said she already knew since I wouldn't answer any of her questions about the midwife I had supposedly chosen. I told her not to tell anyone. I don't need any worried relatives calling me up. The main reason I'm not telling is to protect others' from their own fears for me. I don't want anyone to worry about me. It's just easier if they find out later, if at all. My mom loves to spread the news about things, so I hope it's not too difficult for her to stop herself from telling everyone. At least I'm halfway around the world, so I can have little fear that anyone would try to intervene or otherwise make difficulties.

I also want to think of a cute gift for some of my relatives. My in-laws have been helping us so much this year, and I feel like I need to say "Thank You" in some way. I have no idea what to get or do, though. I hate the idea of giving gifts for which the other person has no real use or desire. Maybe I'll get portraits taken of dd and her sibling and frame them. That doesn't seem special enough, but I know they (and my parents) would like it.

 

[cresorchid]

Hi BinahYeteirah, I'm vegan and I've been freezing lots of stuff. The other thing I've been doing is buying boxed meals that are quick and easy to fix. I love lasagne and that should freeze well. Personally, I freeze things like soups and I make my own hot pockets-which most people buy frozen. and I would let your husband decide not to eat if he REALLY doesn't like the stuff. Amazing how they will often decide it's not so bad if the choice is cooking for themselves.

The other thing is that if you don't freeze stuff or buy frozen, you will likely end up ordering out OFTEN. It is much cheaper to actually buy frozen food. If he doesn't care about the cost, neither should you. I've also been preparing high protein snacks that I can just chow down on like chex mix that I make myself, seasoned nuts and seeds, trail mix. You can just eat them by the handful, but they won't work for the rest of the family or for actual meals.

Good luck.

 

[BinahYeteirah]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cresorchid Hi BinahYeteirah, I'm vegan and I've been freezing lots of stuff. The other thing I've been doing is buying boxed meals that are quick and easy to fix. I love lasagne and that should freeze well. Personally, I freeze things like soups and I make my own hot pockets-which most people buy frozen. and I would let your husband decide not to eat if he REALLY doesn't like the stuff. Amazing how they will often decide it's not so bad if the choice is cooking for themselves. The other thing is that if you don't freeze stuff or buy frozen, you will likely end up ordering out OFTEN. It is much cheaper to actually buy frozen food. If he doesn't care about the cost, neither should you. I've also been preparing high protein snacks that I can just chow down on like chex mix that I make myself, seasoned nuts and seeds, trail mix. You can just eat them by the handful, but they won't work for the rest of the family or for actual meals. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply. How do you make the "Hot Pockets"? That sounds interesting.

I pretty much have to make all our food from scratch, because we also keep kosher and there isn't very much healthy, veggie, and kosher prepared food available here. There are about 5 kosher restaurants here. I do occasionally order from them, but they don't have much vegan food and nothing healthy, so I try not to get that food very often. There is one frozen, vegan dinner available here that I like. It is General Tso's "Chickenless" (made with soy). It's not very healthy, as it has white sugar, white flour breading, and white rice, but it's vegan and tastes good. It costs $9 for one dinner, though. No cheaper than eating out.

I usually just cook to suit myself anyway, so I don't worry too much about dh. He eats meat, etc., so I just cook what I want to eat, and he eats it or not. He has a really sensitive nose, and claims things are spoiled when I don't think they are. So, if I defrost something from the freezer, he will look at it and smell it and say it smells "off" or looks old, etc. Then he will cook something for himself. He has no problem doing that. Once he's said my food is "off" I begin to wonder if he's right. Even if I know intellectually that the food is fine, it doesn't make me want to eat when someone else decides the food is yuck, yk?

 

[Skim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BinahYeteirah I am doing pretty well. I am having lots of BH contractions; some of them are more like "real" contractions than BH, too. They feel like baby is pushing down into my cervix and perinial (sp?) area, not just the hard belly feeling I remember from my dd's pregnancy.

Me too! It took me a while to understand that these were in fact BH, and not painful baby movements. Sometimes it really is baby, but often it's these contractions. Sooooo different than with dd.

And for the gift, what a nice reminder. We've had lots of help this year too from family and friends and it would be great to gift them with this baby's birth. If you think of something other than the adorable framed photo, I'd like to know what you came up with.

Vegan food ideas:
Tempeh! We saute it and then cook it in a homemade sauce (ginger, garlic, cumin, thyme, tamari, cayenne, blackstrap molasses, water to thin) until most of the sauce steams away. It makes great sandwich filling, or it's good hot with rice. I'm not sure what the Kosher rules are, but it's probably suitable. And it's a good source of good postpartum stuff.

Also, a good friend of ours makes a delicious cold lentil salad that I'm pretty sure freezes well. The secret is to toss it with spices when the lentils are warm, let cool, then refrigerate. Then, when cool, I would try to freeze it. She uses onions, sea salt, cider vinegar, a savory herb of some kind, garlic, bell peppers, and whatever else suits her fancy.

 

[BinahYeteirah]

Thanks for your reply, too, Skim.

I know what you mean about the painful baby movement feeling, I think. Sometimes it seems like I am having a continuous BH for 30 minutes or an hour. Then every time the baby moves it hurts. It feels like baby is bruising my ribs on top, and pushing out my rear on bottom, lol. I think I could get comfortable if I could just stretch out and relax, but my uterus is all hard and bunched up. I am happy baby's moving anyway.

Re: Food
Yes, tempeh can be kosher, but there is no kosher tempeh in Australia. Arg! There is only one brand of kosher tofu here that isn't gross. The one that I like is good, but it only comes in one texture (firm). No soft or silken tofu for all my recipes.

No kosher blackstrap molasses either! I have wanted that for my whole pregnancy, just to get extra minerals. Okay, this is just a "poor me" rant, but I miss American kosher food. There is so much more to chose from there. The lentils sound good-- no missing ingredients.

 

[cresorchid]

Where in Australia are you? It sounds difficult to be kosher vegan-at least in that location.

Hot Pockets are kind of like sandwiches. I make the dough like a bread, and then wrap fillings inside and bake them. They are super yummy and you can put any kind of filling in it that you like. They also freeze pretty reliably.

I am simply freaking out at how close to delivery I am. My doula and I are thinking it will be sometime between Tuesday and Friday next week. And yet, I have everything prepared. So I'm really ready; I just don't believe it. And of course now I'm getting excited.

 

[BinahYeteirah]

cresorchid - It is so exciting that you are so close. I'm excited for you! Next week, wow, I'll be keeping my eyes open for your posts! So will your doula still be at the birth? I remember there were some issues with her wanting to rent a Doppler, and with the midwives, etc.

I am in Melbourne. I think it has the largest Jewish community in Australia, so it's just an Australia thing unfortunately. I'm not really vegan these days; I try though. At home I pretty much only eat vegan food, but when I go out to friends' houses I am not so strict. I've never met anyone else who keeps kosher and is/tries to be vegan and food-related occasions are very important in Jewish life. I don't expect too much sympathy from most vegans for the challenges I face trying to combine veganism with keeping kosher, but it is very difficult for me. It was hard in the US, now it's even harder. Thanks for your understanding comments.