Hellobee Boards

Are all of you/ have all of you at one point taken a birth class? Do you feel like it was beneficial or that you could have skipped it? I wasn't planning on it, but now I am having a panic attack and feel like I need to... I looked on the hospital's site and I feel like everything is cutting it too close.

.... aaaand begin hormonal breakdown #589.

@jill_a55: we went to a birth class. it was fine and i'm glad we went. i don't feel like i learned tons, but still glad we went. i know some of the other April ladies had a very positive experience.

@megz06: first, you look fantastic! but i feel you on the body issues. i've been a little sad this week about the weight gain. my doctor commented on it and suggested walking several times per week. we are already doing that!! my body just doesn't like all the hormones. second, it looks like you had a fantastic shower. love that onesie! haha

@jill_a55: oh and i've also had numerous hormonal breakdowns...most recently when i called to schedule our preadmission visit at the hospital/tour of birth center and the lady told me that they won't do evenings without clearing it with a manager and told me to call back when i'm 34 weeks. even though all the pamphlets they gave me at the doctor's office said call at 32 weeks. ugh!

@jill_a55: We took one. I'm glad I did it, but I won't lie-I don't think I learned a ton. It helped DH to feel more confident, though, so there's that. (And by more confident, I mean he was proud of himself that he didn't pass out at the videos of the babies crowning, so he is giving himself a shot at not passing out when I deliver ) If you have the chance, I say go for it. If not, don't stress. You can still educate yourself on the process.

@jhd: I'm sorry about the hospital I actually haven't had an emotional breakdown in a few days. Makes me wonder what will trigger the next one, because we all know it's coming sooner or later...

@megz06: this ice is killer. I really wish it were warm enough to be outside!

I forgot to mention this yesterday, but I had another gut-check moment at the hospital yesterday. When you get there, you have to sign consent forms, so I did, no big deal. BUT, I had to sign one for me and the baby. Apparently, it's standard practice at my hospital after 31 weeks. I was SO not prepared for that!!!

@jill_a55: We did it (just finished up the 6-week course last week) and I am glad that we did. I felt like I got a lot out of it, especially info about low intervention births and breastfeeding. I'm very glad we did it, but I am sure the info and resources are a google search away!

@megz06: If it weren't for my treadmill, I would never leave the couch. Being pregnant over the winter has made hibernation very appealing.

@jill_a55: I've taken 2 classes on labor--one at my hospital's birth center about their practices, and one with a trained doula that was a "crash course" on child birth. I found them really helpful because I'm leaning towards a nonmedicated birth (assuming I can have one, ie don't have complications...which I'm now thinking won't be the case anyway, but I'm still hoping...), but I think more in that it made me more confident in my decisions than it teaching me anything new. I LOVED this book that my sil (who has 2 kids and is finishing med school this year) recommended, I found it incredibly useful for learning about the stages of labor, pros and cons of various medical interventions, coping techniques and labor positions, etc: http://www.amazon.com/The-Book-Birth-Erica-Lyon/dp/0452287685

We also took an infant cpr class, and are scheduled to take a breastfeeding/infant care class next month...My dr is big on pushing classes, haha

@jhd: Here's hoping. I have a baby shower a 2-hour drive away and sort of need to be there. DO NOT want to have to travel in snow!

I don't know if it's the way this kid is sitting or what, but I have been urgently having to pee like every hour. It's so crazy. It just started today like this. I hope he adjusts to give me some relief! He must just be so low right now.

@nana87: thanks for the book recommendation! I'm taking a BF class in a few weeks. It seems like it would be a good idea. We don't have an infant CPR class scheduled yet, because I can't find one in our area. But we'll do it as soon as I can find one!

@preggomeggo82: I hope that you were able to get to your shower!

@HazelEyes: I know! The only reason I know is that I had to go to L+D. I mean, I know that you can walk around dilated for a few weeks, so I'm trying not to put too much stock in it. Mostly, I'm just excited that baby is head down!

@Dandelion: boo that! I've noticed it more, too. But baby can't be that far down, because I'm still getting kicked in the ribs, too!

We're back from my shower. It turned out really well, actually-I had a lot of fun! We got some nice things, which we really appreciate. The highlight is that my parents bought our carseat. We installed it on Saturday so that the dog can get used to riding around with it in the car. So crazy that we're going to need it soon!

I hope that you all had a great weekend

@jhd: @luckypenny: @megz06: thanks ladies! I realized this morning the one problem with our plan, though: the carseat is dark, and the dog is white. So, it's been there for a DAY and it's already got some hair on it. Poor kid's just gonna have to get used to it, though-welcome to every single thing in our house. Staying hair-free in our house is a pipe dream

The one thing I will say is that while the shower was fun, and everyone was generous, I don't feel entirely ready yet. Lots of people went off-registry, which is totally their prerogative, but last night we had to sit down and figure out what we still need. We used a gift card to get our mattress, a crib sheet, and a mattress pad off of Amazon, so they should be here this week. Our crib, dresser, and rug are at my parents', and they will be coming up either this week or next with my mom. I think our Saturday is going to consist of exchanging some things and prioritizing what we need to get still.

So here's a question: did you ladies do a swing and/or a bouncer? We don't have a lot of space, but we probably have space for a small one of each. We registered for the Baby Bjorn Babysitter Balance bouncer and the 4moms Rockaroo swing, but we didn't get either. Both are compact, which is why we picked them. At this point, I'm thinking we'll only get one of them to start and go from there. I'm trying to decide which I think will be more useful. Thoughts?

@LovelyPlum: and i hear you on the dog hair! i do my best, but our dog has fine little black hairs and they get everywhere!

@LovelyPlum: Glad you had a good shower!! I had a lot of people go off registry too, so I spent a day going through what to keep/return and then just went and did exchanges.

I registered for the baby bjorn bouncer, but my mom swears I should get a swing instead that you don't have to create the motion for... @luckypenny: how young did you start using the baby bjorn? could your LO bounce herself or did you need to make it happen?

@luckypenny: It was so cute! All of these "little boy blue" things and all the food had nursery rhyme pun themes. My friends had put a lot of thought into it and it showed!

@jill_a55: @luckypenny: I got the souped up version of that little snugabunny swing, and I think it is going to be a God-sent. We weren't going to get it, and then my mom told me we had to have a swing or we would regret it. She said it saved her life more than once

After a nearly 3 year streak of not being sick, it's official. I have a cold, and it sucks. Once my sinuses started draining, it made my throat sore and went back up into my head and ear (plugging it yet again), so I'm in a worse position, especially since they won't let me have Emergen-c. If I ever started feeling a cold coming on, I would pump myself full of that, and it would go away, but apparently it has too many no-no ingredients according to my doctor, so she won't let me have it.

Oh well. I will enjoy my orange juice, hot tea, and yogurt smoothies.

@luckypenny: oh okay, thanks! I really don't see us spending the money on it either, but put it on the registry juuuust incase someone wanted to buy it! The snugabunny is cute, I've seen it a few times, and that is a great price... I just don't know if I should get a swing or a bouncer...I'll have to figure this out soon!

@megz06: That is what my mom is saying too! I'll take a look at the swing version... I think I've only seen the bouncer.

Had my 35 week dr appointment and nst this morning. Almost failed the nst but the little guy decided to cooperate.

I met with the dr doing my c section. She's excited to be doing it because she's the one who was with us when I delivered S so it's a nice full circle for us. If I go in labor before then it's a slim chance she'll be doing it but now the plan is c section no matter what, even though LO is no longer breech.

Only 3 weeks and 5 days to go!