Christmas (December) Babies 2018!

[StarGazerRose]

I've been to a few showers. This last one did the clothes pin thing (where if you say "baby" someone takes your pin, and whoever has the most wins a prize) and guess how many are in the jar thing... At a different shower they did mini games like "what's in your purse" eh wasn't a fan of that one.
I honestly don't know exactly what is gonna go down at mine. A friend's mom is doing all the games, and our original plan only did the "while they are waiting around paper games" .... so
I'm super excited to see all the people that show up. I haven't seen half of these people since the very beginning (or for many years!) I just know that the number i keep counting is up near how many we estimated for.... so we're near 50 people!!! It's just CRAZY!!!
I'm doing the poster board calendar as a mini-ish game i guess, but I wanted it more for a guest book in the end (if i end up keeping it).

I'm trying to keep my feet propped up at work. Trapping a chair in my desk so i can lean back and reach the seat. My boss is gonna look at it funny when he stops by. (Which he does randomly).

 

[jessicaftl]

Have you looked at getting an exercise ball? I know you were talking about it awhile ago.

Shower sounds fun, I didn't do any of the games at mine. 50 people: that's a lot!

 

[StarGazerRose]

No exercise ball. I looked for one at my local store, but didn't like that they didn't have the larger ones nor have them at a reasonable price. So I haven't bought anything yet. Still been thinking about it, cause i still have time....

Baby has been driving me nuts.... which i find odd to say. But they have been super quiet while at work. I have to cup my belly and nudge them to get them to move. But when i'm at home they are going wild. At night they've been moving quite a bit too. They are moving enough for me to know they are ok, but it's the hours of nearly nothing that are worrying me.

 

[jessicaftl]

Good morning!!

Yeah those balls are pretty expensive, I've seen them around $50 and it wasn't really worth it to me to get it then, lol. I always worry about breaking one because I feel so huge when full term and stuff, but they can be pretty sturdy and definitely help with posture and labor while it's getting going. As far as baby is going, they really can have a lot of quiet moments in my experience. I forgot how much they sleep in those first few weeks, too. You might have a quieter and calmer baby, too. They do get their patterns down, it can make me panic a bit too when they don't move a lot. Mine is quiet for long stretches too and then they're flipping all around for awhile, usually when I'm upset or around the other kids they get kind of active. My dd was rubbing my belly yesterday and the little one was kicking at her hand a bit, so I know they are listening and reacting. Plus I think room is very limited at this point.

afm - woohoo, 36 weeks today! I'm feeling massive, at this point, and just want to relax these last few weeks, but I'll keep positive about it all. I'm getting a little nervous about labor again. Last time I had the shakes so bad during active labor from adrenaline, here's hoping it won't be so serious this time.

 

[dove830]

Does the hospital not provide the balls for you? Here, they have many sizes to choose from.....

 

[StarGazerRose]

And, so far baby has been moving around some more than the past two days, or at least pushing around some. I figured they were running out of space, so wasn't trying to freak out. It was just every time i noticed that they weren't moving it had been a few hours....so i would do alllllll the suggested stuff and i'd only get a little nudge and then they were done. Hubby keeps telling me nothing is wrong, but he's seeing when they are active, not the 2-3 hours of no movement. I guess cause i'm getting so close to the end, i want nothing wrong with Baby that would cause issues! Still doing my best to stay calm and think things rationally.

Hubby was funny the other day. He blew on my belly, making one spot super warm, and baby started gravitating and kicking towards that spot! That was adorable! So i know they are reacting to changes. Baby seems to like when i drive, they are active here and there during the ride.

I still want an exercise ball, but I'm not sure i'll end up getting one "in time" ...

Happy 36!!!!! I can't say much about the whole nervousness about labor. Without knowing anything about it, i'm just gonna say -- you'll probably do better if you get the water birth you want that way you can relax a little. The water is supposed to help with that.

Dove -- I don't think that I can get anything prior to with out a medical reason (and truthfully not sure simple pregnancy is enough) Plus it will have to go through insurance if i get something through the hospital too. I might see if they have something I can use while there.... As I still intend to NOT be hooked up to a machine.

 

[jessicaftl]

Dove - the hospitals here do, and so does my midwife, they're so great too!

Star - I think Dove is referring to the fact that hospitals usually have them on-hand and you can use them while in labor, but they are actually hospital property. My baby also acts different when I'm in the car, usually because of how dh drives lol, but I live in the canyon so when I'm driving up steep roads I think the pressure changes, and it does for baby as well. Not sure how water birthing will go, I asked my mw about if I feel I need to get out to push and she said some women have felt they just need to get out and do it on land and that's how it goes. I know I will be happy about not having to have my legs up in air like in the hospital. At this point I'm getting concerned about pooping during labor lol.

 

[StarGazerRose]

Last night I slept with my feet over the footboard (give or take when I probably turned on my side, cause sleeping on my back doesn't last long). I noticed my feet went down some, but no where near normal.

If the hospital lets me use one while laboring I think i'll just do that. I don't know if I can spend over $50 at the moment just on a ball.

I read that you can do the whole process in water. You can opt to labor in the water and get out to push, or you can just do it all there. Doing the pushing in the water would probably bother me if I poop ...but honestly i think it's almost inevitable right? You are using all those same muscles and if you have anything in your system it will just come out.
I think what i'm in for is the amount of pain I've never experienced and don't know how to prepare for. I mean it's different from reading what people say, and listening to people comment on the level it is, but there are different levels of tolerance, so yeah .... Clueless FTM LOL

 

[jessicaftl]

Sorry about the swelling. I use a bolster pillow or a small on folded over if I need to sleep with mine elevated. They also work well to sleep with my chest elevated if I've got nasty heartburn. I hope the hospital has one for you, they help a lot with pelvic pressure during labor, especially if labor is taking awhile to get going, like it did when I was induced.

I think the pooping thing is one of the worst aspects of it, I know people are like "oh, don't worry about it" but whatever, you can smell it and feel it happening and they usually clean you up really well but I'm still embarrassed by it. It's a sign that you're using the right muscles when you push too, and honestly for me, when it's time to push it really does feel like you have to take a massive crap (lol). I asked my mw about pooping in the big tub and she laughed and said they actually buy those little fish tank nets to catch turds with LOL.

For the pain, yeah it's hard to say how it'll feel, everyone has different thresholds for the pain, I remember the first time it was so painful I got an epidural but I was having back labor. Expect the pain, the point is to try and work through the pain and don't hold your breath because it will make it worse and harder. It'll probably be the most painful thing ever, but it's only temporary and you'll feel okay once the baby is out and on your chest. You really have to get it right in your head about it all or it's just gonna be an anxietyfest.

 

[StarGazerRose]

haha to the "net" Well... that's nice to know.
And as per the correct muscles -- i think that's what I've read. I can agree with the idea of it being embarrassing... especially for having strangers hanging around your privates.

I've been trying to keep the information that i've been reading/watching in mind when that time comes. One was to use a mantra! And in stead of saying Ow, or Oh, you should say "YES!!!" I'm pretty good at breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. I am anticipating it being the most painful thing I've felt -- cause well i'm gonna be pushing out a kid! But it's also one of the most "rewarding pains" I'll experience.

 

[jessicaftl]

I always have a hard time with the breathing part, I tend to hold my breath and it makes my heart rate skyrocket. I hate the hospital when there are like ten people all around you. Last time I didn't even have my dh there because he was with my kids so I'm hoping he will be there more this time around.

My appetite is so crappy right now, and I'm frustrated with my kids. It's so hard to chase them around when I get so sore in the hips and belly. Not to complain about it, it's just how it'll be for the next few weeks, but I am ready for the weekend so dh can help out lol.

 

[StarGazerRose]

haha to the "net" Well... that's nice to know.
And as per the correct muscles -- i think that's what I've read. I can agree with the idea of it being embarrassing... especially for having strangers hanging around your privates.

I've been trying to keep the information that i've been reading/watching in mind when that time comes. One was to use a mantra! And in stead of saying Ow, or Oh, you should say "YES!!!" I'm pretty good at breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. I am anticipating it being the most painful thing I've felt -- cause well i'm gonna be pushing out a kid! But it's also one of the most "rewarding pains" I'll experience.

(I SO thought I clicked the post button.....)

 

[jessicaftl]

yeah for some reason it double posted again, it has been doing that to a lot of people... so aggravating!

 

[bdb84]

I haven't been on in ages! My laptop is a dinosaur and I do not like using forums from my phone so I've been very MIA. I'm sorry

How is everyone?? There's absolutely no way I can go back and catch up.

 

[jessicaftl]

bdb - !!! We have missed you! I'm doing okay, getting so close to the end now and anxious about it all, really. How has your pregnancy been going??

 

[bdb84]

It’s been really smooth sailing! I didn’t start showing until I hit 30 weeks but boy did my body make up for it these past 6 weeks! This girl is so incredibly active and I’m convinced she never sleeps.

I am now officially seeing my OB every week. I believe I have one more ultrasound scheduled for 37 weeks just to get an idea of her size.

 

[jessicaftl]

Ooh, I'm so excited and a bit jealous of you getting a scan ! Don't you usually deliver a little before your edd? Sounds like your lo is super active, too. Can't wait to see when you pop, I think it'll be you or Sushai that goes first. I'm also going weekly and had my GBS this week and next week I am having a special consult for my lower than idea iron levels, and I'll find out next Friday about the gbs swab. Generally mine has also been uneventful and the only thing I haven't done yet is pack a bag, but this weekend I am doing that (I know I said that last week, too, but I am planning to get a few toiletries for my bag, and nothing else is going on for me).

 

[StarGazerRose]

Morning Ladies (I hope everyone is having a better one than me!)

DBD!!! Welcome back! Missed you! I'm glad things are going well on your end! Happy 36 weeks!
With the forums changing, the mobile forum is odd to work with.

Jess -- haha I found the bag my mom gave me to use for a diaper bag, which might end up being my hospital bag more than anything. Since it's like ginormous anyways. And I got the travel diaper bag that I registered for...I just have to see how much crap i can put in it to see if it will be useful (it also is a changing table too

We're making decent progress on the spare room! We're back to Hubby's pile of things and the only thing major left is my craft corner, which i'll go through eventually. Hubby is supposed to go through his stuff today and I hope he can get most of his stuff out of the way. With him starting work tomorrow, it's gonna be our last day to really get anything else done in the room. When he feels confident that we've done enough "cleaning", everything we're keeping is gonna go in the living room while he works on putting up the wall --- which we decided to make it more of a built-in bookshelf on the "adult" side, and just a plain wall on the other (baby side) so he shouldn't take quite as long, and will be VERY useful for all the books we have and games, and movies .... that are gonna go in there.

Shower was awesome! I didn't get that many pictures, mainly the food table and one of the games. I have to upload them, but I'll post them later.
We got so many wipes! I actually am gonna say i didn't get nearly enough diapers as I need. One person gave me a box of diapers, which will be helpful. My mom has a ton of people giving her things still, so she's making passes by our house when she gets more. I'm trying to wait until the bulk of the presents stop showing up before I send thank you cards.
And with us working on the baby room, all the stuff we've gotten had to be put in our shed (the new one)... I'm hoping to have everything back in the house before the middle of November.
Over all I was happy at the turn out. Best present I got -- which idk if Baby will get it right away -- My aunts sent me a blanket that my grandmother made before she passed. (i have TONS of heirlooms, mind you....) I started to cry when i opened the card inside the box. I couldn't help it, I was crying before i even knew it.

 

[jessicaftl]

Good morning, ladies!

Star - glad to hear you had a good shower, and an heirloom blanket . Since my own mother is trash, I am glad to be the one to make all the special things for my LOs. It's nice that you have it, and being emotional is just part of the process I guess. You''ll probably never have too many wipes and diapers, either. And yaay for getting your room more and more ready. Hope that you guys get it to a satisfactory level soon.

afm - well, I lied about my weekend being uneventful. The starter ended up failing in our newer car so we had to replace that this weekend, which took lots of time. Tomorrow is my iron consult, and I'm a bit anxious to have to drive an hour and a half down to it, but I know it'll be okay, just a long time in the car. My pelvic and hip pain has been so annoying the last few days, I waddle everywhere. Baby must be going on some nerves because I am uncomfortable a lot of the time. Today I'm really hoping to clean up my living room since it's in a state of neglect from doing the car.

 

[StarGazerRose]

Jess, I hate that you had to replace a car .... that is never fun (been through enough of those with Hubby's record). I'm sure you'll be fine at your appointment, even though it's the drive that is probably worrying you more than the results. I hope your test comes back in a good range. I'm sure that with it nearing the end you can not have to worry too much longer about your levels.

I wanna start today over ...I need to get to work earlier, not drop my soda under my car .... and MAYBE just MAYBE i'll be in a better mood.