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@MrsB2012: Don't you have to have the baby before maternity kicks in? Maybe you'll have to go down to an office to straighten it out. Just in case they've lost your application or something stupid.
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@Grace: You can start collecting maternity benefits up to 8 weeks before your due date. That's what I did.
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@delight: I know, but MrsB is out on disability before mat leave starts. So she gets 8 weeks disability (or whatever it is until baby arrives) and then still gets 52 weeks maternity. At least that's how I understood it from friends of mine.
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@Grace: I'm not 100% how it works. My friend had to take a medical leave really early, but they told her that she only gets 52 weeks altogether. Either way I just want some $$ thank goodness I have a husband who makes enough to support us both, I just feel bad leaning on hi, to pay my bills. How do single mothers do this with it taking so long.
They won't tell you anything in person or on the phone, you just go to your online account and it says they've received your info and its being processed but won't give you any more idea outside of "processing." Ugh. Though I shouldn't complain cuz I know everyone outside of Canada would love to have our benefits, regardless of how long it takes to come into effect.
On another note, this heat is getting suuuper hard to handle. I don't want to go anywhere or do anything cuz it's so freaking hot! I've been having a hard time with my daily walks now but I really want to keep them up.
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So - one item we have yet to buy is a K'tan...we have a infantino (hand me down) baby carrier...do we really need a K'tan?
I do plan to get an Ergo that will last us until LO is bigger - but I feel some people rave about the wrap carriers and some hate them...
Thoughts?
BTW - the heat broke here in Detroit last night (got down into the 50's overnight) - best sleeping weather ever!!!
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@Mrs D: I really want a K'tan too. And I still need to get my Ergo. I have a Moby that a friend lent me, but its just soooo much fabric. I feel like the K'tan will be more user friendly.
Glad the heat broke for you guys too. It was only 68 here yesterday during the day and everyone was walking around in hoodies and jackets. Now, I appreciated the cool, but I didn't think it was jacket weather! I'm going to take advantage of the cool today though and vacuum out my car so we can install the carseat.
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We actually had to put our comforter back on the bed last night, it was awesome!! DH was complaining our room was so cold, and I was in heaven!
I just have a hand-me-down Bjorn but do want a wrap carrier of sorts. I'm thinking the Moby but not too sure. We have a baby carrying class in our city once a month so I'm going to go to the one at the end of August. They show you how to use all the different kinds and you get to try them with your baby.
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@delight: I wish we had a class like that! Sounds awesome. You'll have to share with us what you learn. Right now, I'm trying to decide between the Ergo and the Beco Gemini. I have also read good reviews of the Infantino Sash Mei Tai. So many choices!
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@MrsB2012: Love the pics of your nursery--it's gorgeous!
@Mrs D: I bought a K'tan, but it's still in the box. I really need to start practicing with it! I got it because the Moby just looks like a ridic amount of fabric and I wanted some sort of wrap carrier. I got mine from NBD (shocker)...I figure even if she hates it I spent less than $30 on it. NBD has them all the time (I am sure they have some now) and they are having 13% off site-wide through Saturday, so now might be a good time to buy one if you want one.
I'm jealous of all you ladies that have had cooler weather. The high in Houston today is 97 (feels like 104 with the humidity factored in)....ugh! At least I get to stay inside my cool office all day.
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@MrsB2012: Awww what a pretty nursery!
@lawbee11: Phew! Thanks for the update on Alivooo1! I was really starting to get worried. I feel better now!
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@JamieLee @Mrs D: haha all this talk about carriers got me wanting one right away so I just bought the Boba online. My friend recommended it. It's just like the Moby but is stretchier. It is supposed to be awesome for the first few months. I like the idea of carrying babe around and having my hands free to do stuff around the house.
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Hey ladies! Thanks for the concerns. I had my check up yesterday and talked with my doctor about what was going on. She said that the most likely answer is that because our intestines are so displaced by our uteruses (mine's a watermelon at this point - yikes!), any discomfort, gas trapped, etc. becomes an excrutiating pain. She said that she had it too and she found it to be worse than labor because it was a "bad pain" and not a "good pain" (labor pains mean progress at least). **Fingers crossed*** that it stays away! Other than that, my LO is dropping each day (I feel like he has no more room to drop!) and I am definitely a waddler now. Getting so excited! Tomorrow is my last day of work before maternity leave!
@lawbee11: Thanks for the update on Aliv0001. Glad to hear she is doing well!
@MrsB2012: The nursery is stunningly beautiful!
@Mrs D: I've been given a Moby, I am a little worried about the amount of fabric and having to wrap it just right, BUT my friends use it with their little guy and love it!
@chanzi: I love the constellations! What a sweet addition to your nursery!
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So - how soon after birth do you use a wrap?
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@Mrs D: I think the K'tan can be used from 8lbs up. My best friend had a baby a little over 2 weeks ago and she's already using her K'tan with him.
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@MrsB2012: love the nursery! I really wish ours was finished ;_;
@Mrs D: We just have the ergo (I haven't even gotten around to getting the infant insert yet).
We're now topping out in the low 80's instead of high 90's, but it's still freaking humid as heck, and the a/c condenser unit for my office broke last week. Luckily the rest of the building is climate controlled and the sun hasn't been beating on my window, so it's really not too bad in here. My boss urged me to use the conference room if it got hot at all.
@JamieLee: glad I'm not the only one who wants to vacuum out the car! The back seat is actually pretty clean because it's rarely used, so we actually have the car seat clicked into place (!!). But I want to vacuum the dog hair out of the cargo area.
@greenebee: glad to hear you got a good report from the doctor!
Appointment today at 1pm, hoping I made more progress since last Thursday. I finally finished the work project and got it out into production yesterday, so I'm feeling really good about things. I think I will make my official start of maternity leave my due date (next Friday, the 2nd), if she doesn't come sooner. I'm worried my water will break at work!
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@Mrs D: I have an infantino carrier, but I didn't care for it too much. DH likes it. for Christmas DH bought me a Beco Gemini, which I lurve!!!! but I haven't had much of a chance of using it with DS, because my back has been awful this pregnancy. I can't wait to use it. i'm making myself a osnaburg wrap, because I couldn't stomach the prices of a 'real' one! I know there are baby wearing groups on FB you can join, where people sell used slings, mei teis, wraps, soft structured carriers, etc. even the used ones are out of my price range though....but if you want to try something out, better to pay less/buy used, than to pay full price and find out you don't like it!
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@StrawberryBee: Hey almost due date twin! I have an appointment today too. This will be my first cervical check, and I'm looking forward to something more than just the blood pressure, weight, and heartbeat standard. Not much longer until our due dates now!
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OH man, I am so jealous of all you ladies that are experiencing cooler weather. They keep lying to us here, promising it is the 'last day' of the heat wave and it hasn't arrived yet. DH adn I both almost passed out this morning on the way into work. The subways weren't running so we jammed onto a packed local train that wasn't blowing any air out. Poor DH was sweating profusely and I was getting bumped around like crazy. I'm cooler now in my office, but still feel all gross and itchy from my commute!
At night it's still super hot too. We have to have all 3 air conditioners on to cut the mugginess and just get the air to a comfortable sleeping temperature. I haven't been to my yoga class in 2 weeks because they only have one tiny AC unit for the entire studio and the last time I went it was so hot it took me 2 days to recover afterwards.
Ugh, sorry for all the whining!
Oh, here's something funny - I have to go to bella bridesmaid today to pick my bmaid gown and get 'sized' for a march wedding. Haha, I have no idea how to strategize ordering the right size, any pointers? The last dress I ordered (same designer and style) was a size 4 and it was too big.
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@StrawberryBee: I totally vacuumed out both my car and my husbands. And now I don't want the dogs anywhere near them.
@Modern Daisy: Ordering a bridesmaid dress is so tricky! I had to order one in February to wear in June...I think an estimate would work. By March you would have had time to get back to pre-baby size, so maybe order just one size up or your usual size? You can always get it altered. I've found the ladies that work at the shops have experience with situations like this and are helpful!
@Mrs D: I got a k'tan for cheap on ebay and also a boba wrap (because the k'tan is sized and we would need two different sizes for me and DH). I also have an ergo with an infant insert. I plan on baby wearing a lot though. The soft carriers are great for newborns but the ergo is more comfortable long term.
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@skipper2010: remember that wishing for a cervical check when you're wincing ;). I hear you though, even though I know what to expect (it's not bad, just not pleasant! Kinda like when your kid kicks your cervix) I love getting the info.
@Modern Daisy: oh, how miserable! I hope it breaks for you soon. Our house is shaded by trees, and though I worry every time there's a big storm, it IS nice to get that break from the direct heat. The A/C takes care of the rest, but at least it's not going nonstop.
On the plus side: you've been going to yoga classes! yay you! I'm just a lazy bump on the log since I got pregnant.
@JessKas: I have a CRV, so the car was always set up with the rear seats folded up, the Honda cargo mat down, a large blanket on top of that, and the dogs in soft crates. Even though I have three very hairy dogs, the worst of the dirt/fur is along the edges.
I also have molded rubber mats down on the floor which I'd love to take out and hose off/scrub down, but I doubt I'll get to it.
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@Mrs D: Our K'Tan box says "Over 7 Days and 7 Pounds", so I take that to mean that once baby is a week old, and over 7 lbs, its fair game. I tried to practice on ours, but the stuffed owl I used is totally not baby-shaped lol.
@StrawberryBee: Wahoo - keep us posted! Hopefully you've made some progress (but will still make it to your last day of work).Had our "surprise" shower last night, and it was WONDERFUL. We were gifted some really cool things - and I only have one little bag of things to take back. I was worried, because I figured we'd get a lot of duplicates. But people were thoughtful and gifts were great! We got a Baby Bullet (so cool), and our high chair, plus this portable high chair thing, and a ton of awesome toys.
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@StrawberryBee: Haha, thanks! Yoga is definitely challenging to attend right now since the classes are 1.5 hours long and I have to go after work or on Saturday mornings, but as long as I can get myself there it's totally worth it.
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@Strawberrybee: @Delight: @Grace: @Lawbee11: @StbHisMrs: @Greenebee: Thank you! I'm an embroidery novice but I'm happy with how they turned out. I'm currently working on a mobile but when I get that done the nursery will be more or less complete and I'll share pictures.
@Mrs D: I have no experience, but we got a wrap (the Boba wrap) as well as a soft structured carrier. I wanted a wrap for when the baby is small--they sounds so cozy! I hope baby likes it ok since I've heard some don't... DH is not interested in it. Our other carrier is a Boba 3G so we'll use that for longer and DH will wear it too.
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@Mrs D: I'm curious to hear the answer to this. I want the k'tan as well but don't have any carrier at all (trying to leave some bigger items we don't need right away for baby shower).
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@greenebee: SO jealous that tomorrow is your last day and that your LO is dropping. I am still carrying pretty high, but I do think she's dropped a little over the last couple of days because I am no longer getting kicks to the ribs.
@StrawberryBee: Eek can't wait to hear how your appointment went! I am also terrified about my water breaking at work.
@redsmarties: glad your shower went well!
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I feel terrible for waiting this long to check in with you ladies, but today's the first day I feel like I have everything under control.
Here's the cliff note version of my birth and how we're doing!
Admitted to hospital at 7am and started Pitocin drip at 9:30, baby wasn't responding well to it so they turned it off. OB told me to get the epidural now just in case I needed a C-section since the baby wasn't responding well to Pitocin. it was either epi now or put me to sleep if I need C-section so they can get him out ASAP. Epi dose was super low since the main concern was putting the needle in so I still had full capability of my legs and feet. OB broke my water at 11:30 and restarted Pitocin. Baby had a preference on which side I laid on - left=drop in heart rate, right=happy baby. By 6pm, I was fully dilated and didn't even feel the need to push but the nurse called for the OB immediately because apparently he was RIGHT there. I pushed for 10 minutes (3 sets of 3-10 second pushes) and he was out at 6:19pm.He weighed 4lbs. 13oz and was 18 inches long.
He had random, unexplained "dusty" spells that night so they admitted him to NICU for observation and testing. After he transferred to NICU, he quit having dusty spells, but was having some difficulty maintaining his body temperature so he stayed in NICU for observation, just in case. He stayed there all weekend, but he was a fighter and we were able to come home together as a family Sunday evening.
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As for someone's inquiry about NB clothes (sorry, I forgot who. I read up, but didn't keep track of who), we go through about 4 outfits a day because milk dribbles onto it or spit up and his pee has been impressive where it leaks out of his diaper! We change at least 2 diapers every 3 hours just because he pees so much!
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@Alivoo01: So glad to hear from you and to hear that you all are home and doing well - minus some impressive peeing!
Cant wait to see pics of the little man! -
@Alivoo01: congrats! Glad the whole family is together at home!
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@Alivoo01: Hooray! Glad things went fairly well (and pretty quick!) Can't wait to see him - hope you're enjoying every minute of baby snuggles!
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@Alivoo01: yay! Glad to hear baby boy is doing well and is home with you guys. Can't wait to see pictures!
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@redsmarties: @lawbee11: Okay, so appointment went okay. My BP is still good (I got the nurse who doesn't tell me anything though 9_9), baby's heart rate is 145, still measuring on track, and I didn't gain any weight from last week (!). Doctor said she can still feel the head down. She said I was about a 2 for dilation, didn't give me a number for effacement, but I wouldn't be surprised if the last doctor overestimated the percentage a bit. I would guess there's a fair bit of wiggle room there until you're 100%. Anyway, we both agreed that it doesn't really matter, since it doesn't really indicate anything except the body getting ready ;). I got the feeling that this is a doctor who's more into induction if you go past your due date, because I asked if I should set up another appointment past the one I have next Wednesday, and she said then we'd be talking induction anyway so it wouldn't matter.
She was ready to leave at that point and I kind of verbally pulled her back to ask her the age-old skin to skin and delayed cord clamping question. While I still didn't get the answer I was hoping for, I did feel that I got more of a real/thoughtful answer than just "here's what I was told twenty years ago in medical school." She said she was reading a lot of studies that had come out on it lately, and it seemed like it was considered a good thing for preterm babies, but that later term babies run the risk of too much hemoglobin if the cord is delayed too long, which causes jaundice which can cause other problems. As a result, the (official OB medical board?) still wasn't recommending it. She also mentioned that it also depends on how long the cord is...she may not reach that far if she's still attached to the placenta ;).
Anyway, either I've changed from last week or last week's cervical check was rougher than today's, because today's didn't hurt as much and I didn't have any spotting.
@Alivoo01: Congratulations!!!!! and wow, dare I say that your labor/delivery actually sounds like it went pretty smoothly, all things considered. Please don't worry about us, take all the time you need with your family
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@MrsB2012: Hmm. Maybe it differs province to province. You have the right attitude though!
@Mrs D: I'm so scared of the k'tan - I'm afraid I'll wrap it wrong and the baby will fall out! I need to get an newborn insert for my ergo though.
@greenebee: Glad everything is ok!
@Modern Daisy: How did the fitting go? I can't imagine trying to figure out what size I'd be (since they say 9 months on, 9 months off).
@Alivoo01: Yea! Don't feel terrible. We all know that life is supposed to turn upsidedown when the baby comes. Plus, we found out you were alive already.
Glad you and LO are home and that the process seemed pretty good!@StrawberryBee: That's the same story I've been gleening from my research on cord clamping. I'm glad she didn't feed you the gravity line!
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@Alivoo01: yeah congrats! Must admit I was getting worried. Glad you and the little man are home safe and sound!
@Grace: I'm slightly frightened of wrapping my Boba wrong so I'm gonna practice lots on a doll. I think these wraps are all pretty secure, but its hard not to worry.
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@Alivoo01: Yay! Sounds like everything went pretty smoothly--I hope my pushing goes as quickly as yours did! Hope you don't mind that I gave everyone an update that you and baby were ok!
@StrawberryBee: Glad your appointment went well and that the doctor didn't feed you the gravity line. I had a cervical check in the hospital last week and I didn't think it was bad at all. A little uncomfortable, but not painful, and I didn't cramp or spot afterwards. Hopefully they're all like that!
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@Alivoo01: oh wow! So happy you're all doing well! What is with these little boys? Lukas had major position preference as well and did not respond to pitocin well either. 4lbs! Was a tiny little guy!
How are you feeling?
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So I had my NST and my regular dr's appt yesterday. NST took an hour and 20 minutes, and while the nurse and OB agreed it was normal, they didn't like that it took that long to get a normal result, so I have to go back on Friday to re-do it.
My regular maternity clinic appointment was again super short. Just blood pressure, and a measurement. Didn't really even ask how I was feeling or if I had any questions... and at 37-2 still no cervical exam. Which on one hand I'm ok with them staying out of there as long as is safe to do so, but I'm starting to wonder.
So, Ultrasound and NST on Friday and we'll see how baby looks and if growth is on track or if there's any reason for an earlier induction if I've suddenly got a 14 pound baby in there or something. It was already estimated at 5lbs at 32 weeks, so definitely curious! -
@Sapphiresun: Glad it was normal - I'm sure the length of it won't be of any concern. Best of luck on the ultrasound - hoping for a totally average-sized baby for you. No cervical checks for me either (at 38 weeks) - I'm wondering if the midwives actually do them or not? I'm curious!
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Ok ladies...trying to sort out my feelings. All I have noticed on the contraction front is these slow building tightening feelings coming across the front of my pelvic area...they gradually tighten - stay tight for just a bit then release somewhat quicker than they built.
However, today I noticed some more period like cramp feelings. Nothing that lasted any amount of time - really only like 5-10 seconds. But things also feel generally a little more achy down there.
I'm 34 weeks (35 if you believe me) today. Like I mentioned on Monday, according to my Dr on Monday LO is totally engaged and she could "feel her head". Just trying to sort out if what I was feeling was more BH contractions and now its more normal contractions? Anyone have thoughts?
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@StrawberryBee: Glad your appointment went well!!! Like you said - at least this Dr was more thoughtful in her response!
@Grace: Yup - same fear here!!!
@Sapphiresun: Bummer you have to go back - but always better safe than sorry!
Cant wait to see pics of the little man! 
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Glad you and LO are home and that the process seemed pretty good!
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