First Time Mommies Due February 2016 - Anyone Want to Join Me?

[Jules8]

dustergirl- I think Target has great stuff! They have a lot of the same things as all of the other baby stores so I wouldn't worry about it. Plus the cutest clothes! Vaginal issues seem to be pretty common, though if you feel the medicine isn't working then I would mention it. They are very uncomfortable. Also, it sounds like you guys are super busy getting ready for winter. I can't believe we are in the middle of fall already, October seems like it flew by.

Panda- I'm glad your feeling better. That's so cool you can see movement now! I can't wait til hubby can see/feel on the outside. I have felt her a few times, but it's always when he isn't around. The less fun baby stuff isn't my favorite, we haven't thought about a will but I will add her to my insurance when enrollment for next year comes up in November. I do have life insurance, I have had the same plan since I was a kid. My husband doesn't however. He is working on quitting smoking so I want to wait til he is completely done so it's not as expensive.

Pri- What a cool story! I love it! So kind of them to offer that to you. Just goes to show that He is always taking care of us, even when we are worried.

fading- I need a financial planner too! lol I hate doing financial stuff!

AFM- Nothing new. Work has been really busy. I am a supervisor in a residential home for 2 adults with autism. October was full of yearly routine doctor appointments and meetings. I have a few throughout next week then we will be good til next year with those appts. I am lucky to have 2 pretty healthy clients. I have also been trying to organize and have everything caught up so the next few months I don't get behind. I am planning on working til Feb. 19th...I'm due the 20th. Though something is nagging me that I need to make sure I have things ready to go by Feb. just in case she decides to make an early appearance.

As far as maternity leave goes, right now I am going to take 8-9 weeks. I can take up to 12 weeks, but it's unpaid and we just can't afford me not working for that long. I get 1 week paid and 4 weeks PTO so I will already go 3 weeks without pay, just hoping that our tax refund will cover that.

 

[dustergrl]

(Sorry ladies, phone posted before I was done and I didn't realize it... see below post.)

 

[dustergrl]

Panda- my hospital is about a half hour to a 40-minute drive away on a good day, so it would be a long drive in a blizzard. We do have closer hospitals but my doctor doesn't have clearance at them. Either way, an ER would do in a pinch.

Jules- I absolutely adore Target. Can't stand Wal*Mart, but that's a personal preference. I found everything I could want there, except for the crib I want, which is fine because my parents said they will buy that for me and it doesn't need to go on my registry.

AFM really no news to report. Was sore yesterday, but that seems to have dissipated. I also had a day of fetal inactivity on Wednesday and kinda started to freak out, but Bip is back to normal. I think I'm getting kicked in the cervix and bowels. It HURTS.

I started on a second round of (different) antibiotics yesterday for my infection, but I have to take these FOUR TIMES a day! Not easy when they suggest taking it with food.

I was away from home yesterday and am again today for a conference but know hubby has things in good hands!

Do any of you ladies know anything about short term disability for maternity or plan on taking it/getting a plan?

 

[PriandRafa]

Hi ladies!!
being super busy at work this week!
Hope all is doing well.


Duster: hope this infection goes away soon!!!
I bought my crib online at walmart. It was a good deal and the crib looks very durable. It is the convertible one that converts into a toddler bed and then later into a full size bed.

Jules: my hubby could not feel him yet! Sometimes we are together, I feel a kick, I tell him to put his hands on my belly, but then baby goes to sleep! If he is not around, I feel it a couple of times.. I think baby is doing on purpose LOL Just joking! Cool that you work with autistic adults!!!

Panda: your job seems very cool too, but yes, it can be long hours and hard to fit a baby into it. Hope you can stay home and then later find something that suits your new mommy life better!

AFM nothing new either. Well, next dr appt is next Wed.
Panda, hubby and I are originally from Brazil, but we live here in the US. Our entire families are in Brazil, we are alone here!
So they will come when baby is born, but they will not be around for the baby shower
And I am actually organizing to have all the grandmas and step grandmas to come 1 month each for after I come back to work, so I dont have to put him on Day care that early.

Duster: As far as maternity leaves go, it all depends on your company and the state you live in. There is no National Law protecting us.
But under the FMLC (or something like that, sorry) if your company has more than 35 employees then you can take up to 6 weeks for natural and 8 weeks for C-Section NON-PAID. It is up to each company to decide if they want to pay or not, and how much.

My company pays 60% of my salary. I am combining disability / maternity with PTO and sick time and I hope to be able to stay home for 11 weeks; 8 as disability with 60% and 3 as PTO with 100%

 

[PriandRafa]

Hubby finally felt the baby kick on Friday evening!

It was soo exciting

 

[Jules8]

Pri- Sounds like you have a pretty great company. The whole maternity leave situation is so complicated. lol That's pretty great that even though you have family that is far away, they are willing to come and help out. Grandmothers are the best! Also, Yay for hubby feeling kicks!!!!

Duster- I hope the antibiotics worked and your feeling better. I wish I knew more about the short term disability. In PA it depends on your employer and whether or not they offer FMLA. My company offers 12 weeks, only one is paid. I plan on taking 4 weeks of PTO, 1 week maternity, and then I will have 3 weeks unpaid. At least that is the plan for now. lol

 

[PriandRafa]

Quiet chat this week!!

Yes, Jules! We are so thankful all the grandmothers are stepping in! He will be the first grandson for all of them, so they are super anxious and excited!! Actually it was hard to tell them that it is one at a time, because they all wanted to come asap!

I had my dr appointment yesterday! All is well, but baby was measuring 24w3d instead of 25w0d. He said it was normal and all is fine, just for me to try to eat more protein.
Baby was sitting and sleeping. Check out his pic

They scheduled my glucose test for next Tuesday morning.

how is everybody else doing??
I hope all is well!

 

[Jules8]

pri- He is just precious!!I love that picture. Good luck at your glucose test.

AFM: I had an u/s and regular appt today. Everything is looking great. Our little Emma bean is weighing in at 1 pound 10oz and in the 54th percentile. She was not happy about being disturbed and was giving us a hard time when trying to get some good pictures. The one we did get looks like there are two faces though! It's probably just the machine, but I like to think its her guardian angel.

 

[dustergrl]

Hi ladies!

Jules and Pri- what precious pics! And Pri, so cool that your OH got to feel your LO for the first time.

AFM my kicks have gotten visible- to the point that when I have my arm resting on my belly, you can see the jolts when I get kicked up high. However, for the past couple days Bip has been sitting low and I've been getting it in the bladder and slightly above my pubic mound.

Two nights ago I had a dream that I had a curly haired, blonde little boy as a toddler. We will see if that holds true! All my colleagues seem to think I'm having a boy so we will see. The very slim minority seem to think girl, but girl was also my initial thought.

This daylight savings time switch is messing me up. I wish we were still on the schedule we had before Sunday...

How is the weather by you ladies? It was absolutely beautiful here all week- sunny and 65-70F. Sadly, it's likely that it's all downhill from here- but I do love the holiday season.

 

[panda fan]

Jules: That sounds like an interesting job. My mother was a special education teacher for a while when I was growing up and worked with children with autism, so I have great respect for people that do that work. Nice that you have such good clients, too!

Duster: I've had those days where baby is just being quiet. It makes me nervous especially when he's been particularly crazy the day before, but I guess that's still normal for this stage. I've gotten the kicks in the bladder that hurt! Ouch! Mine's been the most crazy at night still even though he's often active now during the day on most days. At night I tell me husband "I think he's built himself a jungle gym in there!"
40 minutes is a long ride! Everyone keeps saying for the first one the labor will take a long time though so I'm sure we'll be fine and pacing the hospital bored well before baby comes.

Pri: So excited for you that hubby felt kicks! That's a wonderful moment. Sorry family can't be there for shower, but definitely being there after the baby is more fun and will be a big help!

AFM: I'm feeling pretty good. Enjoying it while it lasts before I'm bigger and more uncomfortable! Have more energy lately so I'm getting lots done around the house: cleaning stuff out to make room for baby stuff. Have to wait for hubby to get home at night to do the big lifting, but we're having fun. My next appointment is on Tuesday so I'm curious to see what doc says about size. Feels like he's had a big growth spurt since I last saw her (some kicking above the belly button now). But who knows? Maybe it just seems that way. Hard to tell. Had to hide and give away leftover Halloween candy. I don't want to fail my glucose test!!

Pri and Jules: Love the baby pictures!!! So cool!

 

[panda fan]

Ooooh Duster! Just noticed! Under 100 days left! Woohoo!

 

[DaisyDreamer]

Hi ladies, wondering if I can join? My EDD is March 2nd but the women in my family never deliver at full term. My mom thinks I will not make it past feb 24!

 

[dustergrl]

Hi ladies, wondering if I can join? My EDD is March 2nd but the women in my family never deliver at full term. My mom thinks I will not make it past feb 24!

Welcome, Daisy!

Wow, I didn't even realize it's double digits. TIME IS FLYING!

 

[PriandRafa]

Welcome, Daisy!!!

Wow Duster, congrats on the double digits!!! so cool!!!!!
Time is really flying by! Little scary to think about!
Nice that you can visibly see the movements!!

Panda: so good that you are feeling great!! you had a rough beginning on this pregnancy
So cute that yours doesnt stop moving during the night!!! He better change his routine once he is born! LOL
And yes, let's enjoy while we can, because 3rd tri is just around the corner and we will get big!!!

I also felt a big growth spurt, but on Wed, dr said he was a measuring a couple of days behind. No big deal, but he told me to pack on more proteins...
Dont tell me to eat more, I've been feeling hungry ALL THE TIME!

About the weather.... someone forgot to tell Miami we are in November... still on the 80's here!

 

[thexfadingpat]

Welcome Daisy.

 

[panda fan]

Welcome, Daisy!
How is your 2nd trimester going?
Do you know the gender or are you going to be surprised?


I'm excited to visit doctor on Tuesday and get a measurement.
Baby seems like he really grew since last time I was there.
Only bad thing is uterus is higher and I've started getting some heartburn. Luckily so far it goes away if I just walk around a bit or use more pillows to prop myself up in bed.

 

[PriandRafa]

My belly is definitely growing and I just can't stand up for too long or take long walks. Feet and legs start to hurt. Anyone feeling this?
Hubby got free tickets for a Boat Show yesterday and we walked for about 3 hours. I was dying by the end....

I have my 1hour glucose test tomorrow morning. Wish me luck!!!

Panda: let us know how your appt goes tomorrow
and mention the heartburn!

Oh, on Saturday we did a hospital tour and orientation!
It was nice to get to know the maternity and see how things work!

 

[DaisyDreamer]

Panda it is going well, excited for third tri. Seems so far but just a few weeks away! Woke up today with crazy fatigue ! And MS has come back not as bad as first tri but still more frequent than I would prefer. All in all, though, good! Heartburn doesn't sound like fun! Have been able to avoid it for the most part except maybe some acid reflux

Priand, I feel it too! OH and I went to a show and were on our feet for like 3-4 hours dancing. I was so ready to go by the middle of it haha. I have a hard time walking upstairs and I missed a step going downstairs so my balance is definitely off-kilter. Glad you got to see your maternity ward! Also 100 days left on your ticker!

 

[thexfadingpat]

I actually find that I get more sore if I sit too long.
I stand on my feet for 8.5 hours at work, and it doesn't really bother me. But then when I get home and sit down on the couch, I get so stiff. It hurts to get up afterwards.


Just realized that today is 100 days to go for me!
On Wednesday or Thursday I will be going for my glucose test. Saturday we start prenatal classes. And the 23rd is my next midwife appointment.
Time is going by fast right now.

 

[PriandRafa]

Glucose test done this morning!

I was expecting it to be a loooot worse.
The drink is not that much, I thought it was going to be like half a gallon or something, and that's pretty much the amount of a bottle of water.
I had it cold, which helped, I guess! Think about a Sunkist without the carbonation. Then blood work before you drink and after 1h. The lady did not do a good job on the first drawing, but the other lady was perfect on the second! Trying to be positive: a good balance, maybe? haha

I've been sore all over. Meaning, If I stand or walk to much, I'm sore. If I lay on my couch for a bit to watch tv, when I get up, I'm sore.
During the night, I literally sleep half way on 1 position, when I get up to use the bathroom I'm sore and my panty and pjs are "tattooed" to my body. then, I turn to other side, sleep through the other half of the night and the same happens to the other side! haha