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2014 April Rainbows

Congrats Hope! So happy to hear of Ian's safe arrival. Glad that your both doing well and that breast feeding is going good!

AFM- Had a lovely suprise Baby Shower Brunch today :) It was just a small get together with my mom, MIL, sisters and my 3 best girl friends. Despite a terrible head cold, I had a wonderful time :)
 
Hope - Wow! I am so happy for you! And he came so early! I hope you stick around to give us all BFing tips once we have our little ones! I also would love to hear how cloth diapering is going with a newborn. We have some disposables to get through the first week or so, then will switch over to cloth.
 
Vietmamsie, yep, I meant march 29, lol. Baby brain at work again ;) Thanks for sharing your tips about natural methods to get labour started - we've been doing quite a few of those the last few days as well. Would love for baby to come before the induction date.

Lisa, I'm glad to hear breastfeeding is going a little easier for you now!

Hope, congrats on Ian's arrival!! I'm so glad to hear all is going well on your end :) I too, would love any tips you've got on cloth diapering - we are also going that route, although have some disposables for the first couple weeks.

Kasey, your surprise shower sounds lovely :) I hope your head cold goes away soon! I'm just getting over a head cold as well - was quite miserable for a few days so you have my sympathy!

AFM, all is going well :) I"m officially done work now and feeling nice and relaxed. Planning to do the hospital bag this evening and spend the next few days getting things organized around the house.
 
Congratulations hope!! Glad everything is going so well for you. It's such an amazing feeling isn't it!!

So breastfeeding isn't going so well now. My nipples have got so bad again that I've been exclusively expressing for the last 24 hours. I think I'm going to continue doing so for at least another day to let them heal a bit. I'm convinced my nipples are to small for a proper latch.
I'm feeling incredibly guilty not feeding her from the breast. I hope I can continue in a few days. It got to the point I was just balling my eyes out at the thought of putting her on coz of the pain.
Get those latches right from the start ladies!!!
 
Lisa - Sorry you have been having such a hard time with BFing. Don't get too down on yourself, its hard! It sounds like maybe expressing and bottle feeding is the best option until your nipples heal. Then in a few days you can try feeding from the breast. Really, it doesn't matter what way you feed them, as long as they are getting some of your milk, they will be fine!

I actually have a friend who had flat nipples and after weeks of trying to feed from the breast, she gave up and only pumped. She pumped until her baby was over the age of one. It worked really well for her family, because it meant more people could participate in feeding. Remember there is no right or wrong way to BF!
 
Thanks vietmamsie.... That gives me hope I can at least continue to give her breast milk. Do you know how your friend maintained her blood supply with just pumping.
 
Lisa - I think she pumped all the time to keep up her supply. I can only imagine it was tough... having to pump so much, then to also get through feedings, but she did it!
 
Lisa- Have you considered using a nipple shield? My friend has smaller nipples and used a nipple shield for 3 months, now her baby's mouth is bigger and can take more of the whole nipple/areola easier and she doesn't need the shield anymore.

Cloth diapering: Definitely smart to have disposables on hand for the first week or so while the cord is still on. I had 4 snap down diapers for his cord so I was constantly washing and using disposables in between. His cord fell off at 8 days and now we are able to use all of our NB diapers. His bum looks so much better than it did in disposables (would get a little red, haven't had diaper rash yet). They poop so much in the beginning, we've both been pooped/peed on in fact! Love our little guy so much!
 
Congrats on your baby hope! :)

We have about 30 cloth diapers ready but we also bought a few packs of newborns for the first few days. I was concerned about the meconium and didn't even think about the cord! I only have 4 cloth ones with a snap down so I guess I will be doing lots of washing for awhile too,lol. :)
 
Karina- I went to a birth class and am going to the hospital for a tour today and you are right how crazy it is to think that this is for real and that, "Holy cow. We are going to have a baby!!!!"

Ebony-yay for being done with work and hopefully your induction goes great! :)

Kasey-how fun to have a brunch with your family and friends! I am thinking about having a small get-together after the baby is born with family members because with all the stuff that I have had to do with the buying of house/dealing with a doctor so far away, I haven't been able to see most of my family the last few months.

Lindsay-How great to be done with work! I don't know how you did it these last few weeks. I can barely go grocery shopping without being miserable!

Vietmamsie- It is so great how positive you are and how you are handling everything! Hopefully the natural ways start working soon, lol. I am doing them as well. It's funny about dtd with OH. I am huge and pretty much never in the mood but I am trying to get this baby out. OH was jokingly like "You just used me to put the baby up there and now all you want me for is getting the baby out!" Poor OH, lol, but he has been so nice to me this whole pregnancy. :)

AFM- Went to the doctor and it's not looking good for a vbac now. :( She did the ultrasound and while she is a bit worried about the weight of the baby (measuring more than 9 lbs now) she is more worried about the size of the head and did all sorts of measurements of the baby and my pelvis. I really want to try but she said that if the head is too big to engage, there is nothing they can do but a rcs. Since she knows I really want to attempt a vbac so she is willing to let me go overdue a bit but says that the safety of the baby is the most important and waiting too much after the due date gets riskier. I want what is safest for the baby so I am hoping that doing my pelvic excercises on the ball, epo, dtd, walking, rrlt, dates etc will work!

Good news though- I am now staying at a hotel a few minutes away from the hospital so no more 6 hour car rides, yay! We close on the new house in a few days too so we might actually live in a house when the baby is born, lol. :) I have a lot of stuff to do though because we obviously don't even have the electricity/water/gas turned on there yet, forget about any furniture! Luckily it seems like newborns don't need too much for a few weeks. I have got boobs, a bassinet thing, some clothes and some diapers so I should be good for at least the first few weeks, lol. :)
 
HOPE - Congrats on Ian. Glad to know things are going well so far. DH and I have already discussed how we're handling pictures of our LO and online/social media. We may post 1-2 pictures of her when she's born but after that we won't be putting many if any pictures up for a long time. I only want to put artistic pictures of her up with me and DH - nothing too candid - since I'm all about artsy stuff.

BRIENNA - Sorry to hear the VBAC may not work out, but here's to hoping it does. 9 lbs is a decent weight though, so you know no matter what your LO will be healthy. :) And glad to know you're close to the hospital. We live 8 minutes from the hospital via the highway, so knock on wood we don't have to drive there during rush hour - then might be about 15-20.

VIETMAMSIE - Interesting to know there is that much liquid in there. Did they say what caused that to happen at all? I guess it's good that baby's well protected, but I can definitely see how it can be a disadvantage since they can move however they want. Are you able to feel your LO a lot considering the situation? I was wondering about that. Hopefully you are.

LISA - Sorry to hear about your BF situation. I know for me I couldn't imagine how that feels, and hope things get better. I still need to wash all of my pump parts and pack that in my bag for the hospital since I plan on using the pump right away (other than maybe the first or second BF attempt just so I know what to do if the pump doens't work).

EBONY - Good luck with the induction. I'm so glad you made it to this point as I know you were really concerned at the beginning.


AFM - Still working and plan to until our LO tells me it's time. As of yesterday I found out my manager isn't having me work on any new work because of my upcoming maternity leave. So that leaves me to work on the case work I've been working on for a while, which I'm not going to lie...this is only day 2 of it, but I'm so bored already. Every day I'm sure is going to get longer and longer for me in terms of being busy. I guess I won't feel so bad then if I don't make up time then when I go to my doctor appointments. lol

The only thing that does suck about still working at times is my back and ab muscle pains kick in at times, which make sitting at my desk hard to do.

We did a little last minute shopping this weekend for some items for Amber, including getting extra bottles, got her a few clothing items for next year when she's older, a few extra toiletry items (baby powder, baby oil, etc).

DH is also hoping she doesn't come early since we're going to the Milwaukee Brewers home opener game on Monday. He was a little upset (jokingly) because he put in for the ticket lottery every year for the last 6 years and never got it, but this year his name got picked to get tickets. So he's really hoping she'll cooperate and let us go to at least one baseball game before she comes. I know for me this Friday is probably going to be my last hockey game to attend for a while, so we're both hoping she'll cooperate. LOL But after Monday next week we're going to try to start using the inducing techniques.
 
Karina - I hope the little one stays put for your DH sake! And yes... I have TONS of movement all day long. I guess that is the only good thing about my condition!

We are using pre-folds with one-size diaper covers, so will be using disposables until the cord falls off!

Over here, nipple stimulation has proved to be the most effective at giving contractions. It took a few tries to get it right, but with stimulation I can get regular contractions - with little to no pain - 40-50 seconds each, 3-4 minutes apart. Usually after stimulation it will continue for an hour or so before they almost completely disappear. Had a few painful ones here and there without stimulation. Have done several sessions of acupuncture as well. Really wondering what sort of news I will get at tomorrows appointment. Have all day today to try to get things moving and tomorrow morning as well. Hoping for the best!
 
Lisa- Sorry to hear your still struggling with BF. It takes a lot of strength to keep going and push through the pain! I hope it all works out!

Brieanna- Glad your now staying close to the hospital now :) Sorry to hear though that you may not get your vbac. Like you said, the main thing is getting baby here safely :)

Karina- Hope you and oh make it to your game! My oh gets home tomorrow and I'll be 37 weeks so I'm ok with baby coming anytime then :) May start using some induction techniques too!

Vietmamsie- Have you had your apt yet? Hope things are progressing for you!

Had my 37 week apt today. Baby is still head down and in position, but nothing else appears to be happening just yet, though he didn't check cervix. The OB didn't have the results of my GBS test either...hopefully he will by next weeks apt.

I've been having some pretty intense lower back pain/cramps since last night. They come and go. Wondering if it's Braxton hicks or maybe the start is something...
 
Ohhhhh! Kasey! I hope it is the start of something! Lower back pain with cramps is a really good sign! Keep us posted!

Waiting for my appointment this afternoon. This is killing me! The wait is so hard! At least I have a lunch date with DH to look forward to before the appointment!
 
getting so close for all you ladies!! i keep coming on to see if anyone has had their LO's yet... i can't wait!!

Cant remember what i last updated but basically i stopped BF coz of the pain to let my nipples heal a bit which they have and I've been expressing and supplementing with formula. Had trouble getting her to latch again over the last few days but she finally did today but now my milk supply isn't so great. Ive started have some really bad cramps and bleeding has started up again so the doctor is worried there might be some placenta left in there so I'm getting an ultrasound to check. Hopefully there isn't coz that could mean i need a d&c. Bad!! fingers crossed its not that.

My angel is going great still.. she is the best baby! She sleeps well and only cries between changing her nappy and getting to her food!!

We got some professional photos the other day... heres a preview... we won't see the rest for 2 weeks.
 

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Vietmamsie- Keep us posted on your apt today.

Lisa- You did wonderful to keep trying the BF for as long as you did. Your little girl looks happy and healthy and that's all that matters :) Her picture is absolutely gorgeous!! What a little doll :)

I hope your ultrasound goes well and there is no need for a d&c.
 
Hope, I hadn't even thought about the cord with cloth diapers! Now I'm glad we have some disposables - they should hopefully last us until it falls off. I hope things are continuing to go well with your little guy :)

Brieanna, I'm sorry to hear things are not looking as good for a VBAC - hopefully their measurements are a little off and baby will be the perfect size. That's good that you're staying near the hospital now - sounds like you'll be busy moving with new baby. Hopefully you've got lots of help!

Karina, I hope LO cooperates with your DH's plans hehe :) DH and I have been doing a few things lately that will be a little harder to do with a baby (going out for dinner, going to see a movie, etc).

Vietmamsie, how did your doctors appointment go? Any progress on getting your LO moving?

Kasey, how exciting, did anything come of the cramps and back pain?

Lisa, what a beautiful photo! I hope you'll share some of the other ones when you get them :) She is beautiful! I hope your ultrasound goes well and there no need for a d&c.

AFM, had a growth scan on friday and LO was estimated to be 6.5 lbs, so being induced this weekend we're looking at probably a 6.5 - 7.5 lb baby. I'm starting to get very excited :) Have continued to go to acupuncture to try and help get my body ready, as well as some natural methods at home. Had some regular braxton hicks on and off through the day yesterday, and this morning am feeling quite crampy/uncomfortable at the bottom of my bump and my low back. Also feeling kinda nauseous the last few days... feels like morning sickness coming back as when I eat something I feel better.
 
KASEY: I've been having the lower abdominal cramps for the last week off/on, but for whatever reason today - or at least these last few hours - it's been pretty ongoing. Since we're pretty close in terms of due dates (I have my 37 week appt tomorrow at 37 + 4), it's good to know someone else is having the same feelings I am. Here's to seeing if there's been any other progression since last week's visit.

VIETMAMSIE: Hopefully you're appointment went well. Like the other ladies said, definitely keep us posted.

LISA: That is a beautiful picture. I think we'll try to do some of our own "professional" style pictures eventually with our LO. Definitely share whatever you feel comfortable sharing with us. :)

LINDSAY: I hope your induction goes well this weekend. Definitely let us know how it all goes, and may you find much joy in holding you LO soon. :)
 
Lindsay! Your so close! I can't wait to see the pictures and hear your story!

I am also having the same cramps and contractions most of you are experiencing. With all this movement, there is a lot of discomfort in general. Not to mention this crazy belly that just keeps getting BIGGER.

For once we had some good news... I actually was down a half kilo! Hahah... I guess being too full of baby leads to less snacking!

And for the bad news (because there always has to be some!) I have gained another 4 cm of fluid - putting me at 28cm. Thats 10cm more than the regular range. We had fetal monitoring for an hour and the baby is doing wonderfully and I even had some off the charts contractions which was fun to see! But it was weird, both DH and I walked away from the appointment the complete opposite from last week. It doesn't really feel that serious and the doctor seemed much more relaxed about it all. We didn't feel like it was a dire situation as we did just a week ago. I am to keep trying to induce naturally and see what happens. No talk of induction or c-section yet.

It was sort of funny because the Dr. tried to strip my membranes... It felt like he was about elbow deep in there! But my cervix is still too high, so he couldn't reach it! If nothing has changed by the next appointment, I might suggest changing positions to strip the membranes... seems like my cervix might be lower in a squat.
 

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