Hellobee Boards

@jh524: Congratulations!!!

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I've been having BH since 32 weeks and, initially, it just felt like baby's bum was trying to burst out of my belly button! Then, as they got stronger as pregnancy progressed, I noticed the sides of my belly sucking in too - it was like baby was being shrink wrapped! Its super tight but not painful. I've mostly heard them described as the bump going hard, though!

@auggiefrog: how was the second part of your appointment today?
@jh524: congratulations on the new position! What kind of fitness classes do you like to teach?

It looks like next week is going to a busy one for April mamas! It's exciting!

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: We do the same thing. We eat out several times a week. With a LO, I doubt I'll be going out and cooking in more though.

@jh524: How exciting! So soon!

@autumnleaves: It went good. At least something is happening. I'm not dilated, but am effaced.

My appointment went well, I am 50% effaced, but not dilated. The pressure has been getting worse, so I'm hopeful something will happen before I am induced.

Thanks everyone for the welcome back and sympathy!

Next week looks like it will be busy busy for the board!

Has anyone else been struggling with getting their iron levels up this trimester? Mine crashed at the start of the third tri and even with taking supplements twice a day, and adding red meat to my diet I'm still not able to get my levels up. With DS I ended up with a transfusion right after delivery- even though I didn't bleed much during delivery. I'd like to avoid that this time around but feel like there's not a lot I can do in the next week to prevent it.

I packed my hospital bag last night. Leggings and nursing tanks for me, a hand knit coming home outfit and side snap kimonos for baby girl. Toiletries and a phone charger.

I've been telling everyone who asks if they can visit at the hospital that they can, as long as they bring food, either to the hospital for me to eat then, or dropped off at home for the first few days back. A number of our buddies did one better and preemptively dropped off some of my favorite beer for when I get back home. Woohoo!

Will you have many visitors, or want visitors at the hospital? I thought I didn't want them with DS but tons of people came anyways (DH is a social butterfly) and I ended up really enjoying it. And it was easier to say hi, show a peek of the baby and keep the visit short there than when people would come visit us at home. I hope everyone visits at the hospital and then waits to see us at a meet the baby brunch when she's a month old. Entertaining at home with a newborn was just too annoying, even if people brought food or offered to help.

@auggiefrog: out of town family is hard! My mom and MIL were super helpful the first time around so I'm looking forward to them being up. And my dad is helpful, but he's also the king of sprawling out. My home is tiny & it feels small when he's hanging out. He takes up my entire living room once he sets up his laptop, chargers for his phone and iPad, kicks off his shoes and all his other stuff. It makes me crazy. He's not tidy either and will leave dishes and stuff everywhere. BUT- we're close and my son absolutely adores him and my mom so it's not like I'm not looking forward to him visiting. I just get stressed when he takes over the living area- he's super oblivious to it too.

We have extended family traveling to visit in waves and I'm really looking forward to it. I think DS will get some extra lovings this way and have a chance to go do things with family that baby and I might not be up for yet. I think it helps that they'll all be staying at a nearby hotel rather than with us. Well, except when my MIL is here next week. She'll be with us, but she's coming to take care of us so that makes sense

@JH524: congrats on the new job and on your Monday appointment! That is so exciting! Speaking of fitness, I made the mistake of watching my wedding video tonight. Our 6 year anniversary is Sunday (so we could possibly have an anniversary baby...). I was in *such* amazing shape. It was so weird seeing my flat tummy compared to the basket ball tummy I have now! I'd love to be that fit again, but it's hard to find the time to do more than just walk the dog!
@EIEIO: I am so excited for you! I'm sure you're counting down the minutes. I hope everything goes smoothly.
@autumnleaves: I hope your baby cooperates so your in-laws can be on hand to help out!
@bloved: I'm sorry things were a disaster back at work during your first day out. You should tell your temp to keep those things to herself from here on out. I literally told my staff to not even call me if the place burned down.

@jh524: congrats on the new job!

@akcoffeebean: I'm not sure how many hospital visitors I will have. I am thinking lots if last time is an indicator. I had my son on a Friday and I feel like everyone in the world showed up (literally everyone, including my husband's ex girlfriend who, while lovely, came in as I was trying to figure out breastfeeding). I found it completely overwhelming and exhausting to have so many visitors even though it was all people I love. This time my c-section is scheduled for a Tuesday so I am hoping being mid-week might make it slightly less appealing for people to stop by. And at least I should have a break during work hours!

I've been having a lot of angst over when /how my son will meet the new baby. I really just want it to be the 4 of us with no one else there. He'll be with my in-laws, so My plan now is to ask them to call when they get to the hospital and my husband will bring him in first and they can wait down the hall in the family room. I feel Mean and diva-ish dictating that, but I know hormones will be running high and I just want that moment for immediate family. What is everyone else's plans if you already have a kid??

@Cherrybee: Good luck today!

I felt a lot more pelvic pressure yesterday and ended up with hemmorhoids by the end of the day - Last time I didn't get them till after delivery when I was able to take stronger pain meds. This is not good! And we think LO1 may have pink eye or an ear infection. No fever but he has a crusty eye and yesterday there was a little bit of fluid coming out of it. No fluid yet today.

@akcoffeebean: I had low iron from the start. Maybe you can try a side of leafy green veggies at every meal.

@auggiefrog: sounds like a good appt as things are moving along!

@bloved: I think your plan to spend a little time as a family of four is perfectly reasonable. Your ILs may be more understanding than you think.

We aren't having any visitors at the hospital and will keep phone calls/ updates to a minimum.

@Cherrybee: on your sweep today and spontaneous labor!

@autumnleaves: aww man. Hope things turnaround and get easier for you and your LO doesn't make you sick too!

What is back labor like? Do you still get tightening in the front? Typically, with my period, I only get back cramps. Today I am cramping pretty heavily like my period is coming. Wondering if this could be contractions? Or no, because all my bh/contractions so far have been in my stomach?

@Cherrybee: oh gosh I have no idea! Lol. I'm Monday 8am mountain time. How are you feeling after your appt.?!

@bloved: I'm really worried about my son too. Trying to not think about it too much and just let it be. He will survive. It will be very hard on him not having his mommy though it breaks my heart but what can we do?!
@autumnleaves: yikes!!! Hopefully its not pink eye! We went through that a few months ago!
-----if the back labor or contraction comes on like a wave then yes it is! Like its starts in the front and moves to the back...I had back labor with my first. Hurt like hell!

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: same here! The less visitors the better for us. Sounds kinda mean but hopefully they understand and can just give us time.
@akcoffeebean: thank you!! Being a fitness instructor has allowed me to work in my field, make some extra money and still be a SHM. So I'm very thankful for that. Once the boys are older and in school, I will go back to teaçhing at the schools. But for now, it works
------I haven't even really thought about DS visiting either. I do need to get him a present so when he arrives, he gets a gift from baby brother.

LOL the Marpac white noise machine is definitely the most popular registry item. Two people sent it. I returned the one I bought with my Target completion discount and will return the other. Then, of course I double checked that it shows purchased on both registries!

What did you receive multiples of?

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: LOL - they know how important sleep is. I received 2 sets of Dr Seuss books and we haven't read them yet.
I also received 2 grocery cart covers and I didn't register for that.

@Canoli: thanks I ordered some of that earth baby balm.

Daycare didn't call me today so hopefully LO does not have pink eye.
Our glider arrived at the warehouse today. I think we'll pick it up this weekend and I'll try to take photos of our nursery and big boy room to post.

@autumnleaves: your friends are germaphobes- love it! So far we haven't had too many off-registry gifts. One person gifted us a Wubanub, which is great because I was so indecisive about which critter/ color to pick.

Dh goes back to work tomorrow, and I have a lactation appt. He doesn't want me picking up the carrier too much as it is a little heavy, so I may try out our baby bjorn, or take the stroller. A friend is coming over after, so that will be nice.

Umm...... Its 1am here and I'm pretty sure my waters have broken. I was woken by a contraction that radiated across my back and then I felt a trickle..... then another..... so I got up and, as I was walking to the bathroom, I soaked the pad I was wearing. I emptied my bladder and waited. I leaked more liquid into the toilet after a couple of mins but then it stopped. I put a fresh pad on and came downstairs - and have just had another mild contraction which has pushed more fluid out, soaking another pad. This has to be it, right? I can hear DH snoring upstairs and I don't know whether I need to wake him or what I need to do!!!

@Cherrybee: sounds like it to me too! good luck

I feel awful waking him up as I'm not exactly in full on labour. But its pouring out of me now, agh! I'm definitely getting contractions but they're nothing compared to what I was having Monday night. I'm a cross between excited and, well, confused!

@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: three of them are really cute.

@Canoli: what???!!! @Cherrybee: wake him up and get ready!!! Holy moly ! What will you do with LO if you go in?