Hey ladies!
Okay, I've finally read back a bit, so hopefully I can comment a little more intelligently this time than my usual drive bys lately!
On the flip side this may be a long post LOL!
First, happy birthdays all around it seems -
Steph, CJ and Austin!
Rebekah - On the formula question, we started out with the ready-made Similac Advanced. It was the one the hospital used and it is what our ped recommended (until we ran into acid reflux issues; more on that in a moment). We are now feeding Enfamil A/R (acid reflux formula) which has rice cereal "built into" it.
Steph, if you eventually go on to formula (and hopefully you won't need to), you could ask your doc about it. Ethan has a fair bit of reflux (though he rarely actually spits up, so that's good from a "calories in" perspective). I can tell it's happening because he will "urp" up, choke on it, swallow with a concerned look on his face and then start to cry. And I know just how he feels because GERD runs in our family. I have it alll the time anyway, but
Viv, as you noted, it gets a LOT worse for some of us during pregnancy. Mine got so bad in 3rd tri that I would literally wake up choking and had to switch to sleeping propped up on a foam wedge made for that purpose. It helped so much I have actually continued to sleep on it. Keep Tums or similar by your bed and carry them with you everywhere! Everyone told me to drink milk, but dairy actually feels good going down then makes heartburn worse, and water only contributes more volume to the problem. So I found the antacids really helped and the Tums are basically just calcium so are safe during pg. On the infant GERD, our dr. said the A/R forumla (being thicker because of the rice cereal) can help food stay down better because gravity holds down thicker milk better than runnier milk lol. So far it seems to be helping. She wrote us a script for Zantac but hubby does not want to start Ethan on any continuous meds this early, so we're holding that in reserve. He is 3 months now, and the dr. said it should improve with age so here's hoping. She said all babies basically have an incompetent esophageal sphincter (the valve that holds the stomach closed) and so it's a very common problem.
As a totally unrelated side note, I am sitting here next to Ethan's cradle swing and have two things to say about this swing: 1 - best invention EVER, and something we cannot live without right now as he takes ALL his naps in it, and 2 - NEVER allow yourself to run out of batteries for such a device.
I'm literally sitting here pushing the swing by hand to try to get my child to nap, so don't let this happen to you!
We are anxiously awaiting Daddy's return from work with batteries before mommy and Ethan go insane LOL!
Steph and CJ, I can relate on the baby blues. I think mine is mostly from the lack of sleep, as I simply do NOT deal well without sleep. And the 3-4 hours a night I've been getting lately is just not getting the job done. I regularly get up (notice I didn't say wake up!) in tears from having been awake for hours before the baby actually cries to get up in the morning. It's definitely the hardest, most exhausting job I have ever done, but well worth it. I know I will feel better once I get some normal rest and get into a good routine where I haev energy to exercise and get out more, etc.
Viv, Austin and others - on the ankle and foot swelling - I literally had "pitting edema" (where you can press your finger into your skin and make an actual pit) from the knees down for the last tri. It was so bad I could not really walk comfortably, not only because I could not get my shoes on (and it was winter here, so flipflops weren't really an option) but also because my ankles would not bend! I literally started to worry that I would have STRETCH MARKS around my ankles!
And mine took about 3 weeks to go away entirely. I agree with others who've said nothing really helps - putting my feet up made absolutely no difference (even in the hospital, AFTER delivery!) and avoiding salt or drinking more water made no noticeable difference. Everyone who saw me was shocked at the size of my ankles and feet. But happily, there was no lasting damage so I can report that this, too shall pass!
Sveta, congrats on the shower! Aren't they so much fun!? I LOVED mine and we got almost everything we needed, at least for the early days.
Anna and Sunshine and Lynn, if no one else is able to throw you ladies a shower, maybe we can do something online for you! Just a thought! It's just not the same without a baby shower and I know that for me it was a real bright spot in an otherwise depressing few months with all our family losses.
Auntie, thanks for updating about Lava! I follow her as well and I am SO delighted for her BFP and good beta's! Can't wait for her to join us and for YOU to join us too sweet friend!
Skye honey, are you still lurking? Hope all is still well and you are still feeling good!
So meanwhile I seriously need to get some video of this whole "mommy operated swing" thing for you guys. You should see EThan's little face cloud up and pout everytime the swing slows down. The motion is too erratic I guess for him to fall asleep like he normally would, but at least he is being patient and quiet. He doesn't eat again for about 45 minutes and I've used up all my entertainment repertoire. Oh dear!
Lucy and Terri, HI!
Well, he's tiring of that routine so I'd better run. HUGS to all and if I missed anyone I am so sorry!
He was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2007, did radiation and chemo. Then he had a relapse in 2009, more radiation and chemo. Now, it's officially in every bone of his body so he's palliative. We're having a really hard time accepting it
Good morning, everyone! 
Turns out I have BV. Even though I had no symptoms. Weird... Anyhow, I guess that's what caused the cramping. But the LO's fine and was practically doing summersaults for them, so all looks good. 
I put up w/her antics, but I want nothing from her. Just thinking about her raises the old blood pressure... But I do like the idea of us throwing each other a shower! 
How's about we meet in the middle. And slightly south. Like Cancun. 
Fingers crossed that the script will do the trick. Hopefully between that and the rice cereal, she'll be chubby & happy and you'll be BFing in no time! 
Nothing helps: decreasing salt (all that did was make my blood pressure go dangerously low), increasing fluids (all that did was make me pee more) or foot elevation (this helped just a tad but not enough to let me wear normal shoes!)... Went away within 2 days of the C-section. Your growing uterus is pressing down on the inferior vena cava (the main vein that brings blood back to heart), which then leads to a back up in the lymphatic system. Only emptying the uterus by birth solves it! Obviously though it can also be a sign of preeclampsia so it's good to have your blood pressure checked and urine dipped for protein just in case. 
today! I'm pretty sure she's 14 dpIUI today, and her beta this morning looked perfect. 
Should I be worried about the measurements? The nurse said the sono's are more accurate, so since my sono's have been excellent, next weeks should prove her measurements inaccurate.
