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Hey ladies, I found this birth plan that covers a good amount of topics. You click what you prefer and it prints out a copy for you.
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One of my coworkers just told me that I looked like I was carrying lower and she bets I go before August. Secretly hoping that's true ;).
@Mrs D: I'm not too concerned with the nursery being done in time, since we're not planning to have her in there for the first month or more. I do need my DH to move the glider he stashed in there into our bedroom. I need the Pack N Play purchased, though could probably stash her in the Rock N Play if we had to :).
Hospital Bags: I'll probably pull something together soon. I need to get to the eye dr ASAP so that I can order more contacts; I'm on my last pair. Can't decide how late to leave buying nursing bras/tanks? I'm not sure how big I'm going to get
(started out a DD. I don't think I've gotten much bigger, but I have a problem picking out normal bras in brick and mortar stores).Laundry: I've done some (sheets, nursing covers, blankets, etc.). I need to wash the Rock N Play and swing fabric bits and some newborn and 0-3 clothes.
So I guess beginning of July I'll start getting antsy!
@JamieLee: how sweet of your DH to surprise paint for you! LOVE the glider!!!
@skipper2010: I think (hope) so! Here are all the things I've ticked to buy on Amazon:
Pack N Play sheet x2
Mattress pad cover
Organic waterproof cover (changing pad)
Mesh crib bumper
Gerber burp cloths, 10 count
Philips bottle brush
Earth mama nipple butter
Disposable nursing pads, 36 count
Carlson Labs Vitamin D
ThermometerI bought a bottle of Dreft and a package of Rockin' Green for the cloth diapers.
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I've been away so here are my belated survey answers!
1. Have you started the nursery? Yes. It has been painted and I've moved all of my clothes out.We also hung the bookshelf and artwork and bought lots of baskets for storage that are already doing their jobs. We still need to move DH's clothes out and put more things in storage, order the crib and generally find a place for everything that's kind of just thrown in there.
2. Who will be in the delivery room with you? Just me and DH and obviously the medical staff.
3. What is your biggest fear about delivery? That I will have to have a c-section or something will go wrong.
4. What is your biggest fear postpartum? Right now it's that I'll have to have a c-section and recover from that.
5. Besides baby, what are you looking forward to postpartum? Being able to drink alcohol again and get my body back! I can't wait to start working out and dieting while sharing a cocktail with DH after work again.
6. What's one think you've learned from being pregnant? What not to say to a pregnant woman and how to act around them.
7. Belly button: Innie or outie? Still an innie although it pokes out more and more every day.
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@Mrs D: Thank you so much for keeping us all organized!
@Alivoo01: I'm not planning on having a written birth plan, but if I was that list is awesome! It really does all the work for you.
@StrawberryBee: Oh that's not bad! You don't have a lot of stuff left to buy at all! I think you and I are close to being due date twins right? (My due date is August 1st). I still have a ton of stuff left that I need, but I also haven't had my shower yet. I'm secretly hoping I go before August too.
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I had my second shower this weekend and it was awesome! My in-laws really went all out for us and we didnt' have to lift a finger, unlike my first shower where I was literally running around like a crazy person setting up and cleaning up. The games we played were so much fun - measuring the belly and we had a "DH Trivia" game since it was all his friends and family. My MIL also had a massage therapist come and give all the fathers a 15 minute massage since it was father's day. Like I suspected, our gifts were mostly books and off-registry items, but I love them all and am really excited now that I can finally complete my registries and finish setting up for baby to arrive. I had been forcing myself to hold off until after the showers so there would actually be gifts on the registry for people to buy if they chose to go that route and also so I wouldn't buy too many things for the baby that I end up getting at the showers. Thank goodness I held off because we got SO MANY blankets, burp cloths and toys. I'll still buy the A&A swaddle blankets from our registry since they kind of serve a different purpose being so lightweight and good for nighttime swaddling, but man do people love to buy blankets lol!
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@skipper2010: I think we'll start with baby detergent and then probably switch to something more normal once it's used up.
@MrsD: As always, I bow down to you and your lists.
@JamieLee: That glider is gorgeous! Suffering from super envy right now.
@Modern Daisy: That sounds like such a sweet shower! I literally "awwed" at all the dad's getting massages for Father's Day. Bet it was unexpected.
The talk of birth plans reminded me of my birthing class. It's run by an OB nurse who is very pro-natural delivery. It's pretty awesome because she tells us all the stuff that that "lazy nurses" (her words) might try. Anyways, she hates (with a captial H) birth plans. She said that she thinks it allows women to plan for the perfect birth which leads to disappointment (because they rarely go "perfectly" and a higher risk of post-partum depression. What do you think of that? I thought it was an interesting angle.
And last, my doctor sent me home today because my resting heartrate would not come down below 120 during my appointment. I have instructions to rest, drink lots of water and go to the ER if I get any pains. So far, I've been drinking and it's down to 84, so that's good. But what is it about being told to rest that make me want to do things? Any other day, I could veg with the rest of them. Today, I want to weed the garden, go to BRU, put shelves up in the nursery, clean the basement, do laundry. What is wrong with me?!?!?!?
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@Grace: Wow, that's really interesting. What did she say about 'lazy nurses'? I'm really interested to learn about what to expect at the hospital and what questions to ask/how to handle different situations.
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@Modern Daisy: Apparently some nurses will push an epidural because it's an easier shift for them. If you don't have one, then the nurse's job is to help you through the contractions, suggesting positions, helping with massage/counterpressure etc. Basically it's their job to do the things that people hire doulas for. Another one was that if you have to have monitoring, that the nurse can say you have to stay in bed, when that's not necessarily true. There's no reason why you can't be bouncing on a ball next to the bed. Same for if you have an IV - there's no reason why you have to be lying in bed. There was more, but they were more minor....and I can't quite remember what they were. She said always ask "why" and if you don't understand the answer/it doesn't make sense, then the answer isn't good enough and we should ask why again.
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@Mrs D: love these lists, especially the bags to take extras from the hospital home!
@skipper2010: Yep! My dr has actually been saying August 2nd as my due date, but since that's just a guess anyway I haven't bothered changing it on here. I'm scared that I've forgotten something vital ;). I definitely want to pick up some side-snap shirts in newborn size (I've been leery of buying too much newborn, though I really really hope she's not a 9-10 pounder!). I've left off some stuff that can be bought later, like the high chair seat, cloth diaper hemp inserts, etc.
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I went on an Etsy binge today and got two pieces of "artwork" to frame for the nursery along with closet dividers and some onsie stickers....
Then I went to target and got all cheap with the storage organization stuff I go - nothing fancy just clear plastic sterilite containers to keep things in place in her closet! Its fun to be working on the finishing touches!
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@Grace: interesting! I've gone back and forth on the birth plan plan. I don't want to be labeled as a problem patient, but at the same time I have a hard time voicing my opinions and wishes in person.
Examples you listed are part of the reason why I'm so twitchy about going into a hospital and just blindly trusting doctors/nurses. I don't want something pushed on me because it will make their lives easier; I want something pushed on me because it's in the best interest of my child and/or me.
With that being said, I have no problem with getting an epi. But I don't want narcotics, and I don't want to be pushed to have pitocin just because somebody doesn't feel like waiting it out and wants to rush things along. I'm fine with pitocin if my labor has stalled significantly and it's the only way to move forward. The problem is, how to know the difference?
I recognize that this is why people hire doulas ;).
I followed the format of Mrs. High Heels' birth plan pretty closely: http://www.hellobee.com/2012/12/11/our-birth-plan-for-an-unmedicated-hospital-birth/
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@StrawberryBee: Just to clarify, she wasn't against it because of becoming a problem patient. Someone in the class asked about that and she said not to worry about it and the nurses have to grow up sometime. She didn't like written plans specifically because of the disappointment it could lead to (and said that something happens to us when we write things down vs just hoping for a certain thing in out heads). She also stressed that the dads have to be our advocate. That moms are busy and it's dad's job to ask "why do we need pitocin" and get an answer that makes sense to both of you (so I guess it's really important that the birth coach knows what you are hoping for).
My plan right now is to get to know my nurse's plan before things get really intense (and I still have my mental facilities about me, lol). I'll have the same nurse the whole way through, so I'm hoping by the time I get to any interventions (if any), I'll be able to trust her judgement. Wishful thinking? I don't know.
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@Mrs D:
1. Nursery Prep: In progress. Deadline? Hopefully sometime before birth.
2. Thanks to you I now have a list! haha! I want it packed by 36 or 37 weeks. So... July 8-ish.
3. Other crap: Laundry still isn't done. I'm kind of waiting for my husband to clear out the office and paint before I do the laundry. Not sure why but that's what's making me delay. If all that isn't done by July 8-ish I will do it then. Everything else can be done whenever!@JAMIELEE: Yay for amazing husbands! That was so sweet of him! Deadlines stress me out too and I REALLY want to do a deep house clean before the baby comes. I wonder if hiring a maid service to do a good deep clean one day would be worth it?
@SKIPPER2010: I haven't decided yet. DH said that for both his boys they used a baby detergent, but I've read that most babies are fine with whatever. I think I like what someone else suggested, I'll buy a thing of baby detergent and use it until it's gone and then go back to our regular stuff.
@Alivoo01: haha! That birth plan thing is awesome. I'm not planning on a birth plan but I did it for fun anyway and it seems very cool! Some of the options are super weird/demanding though! Maybe I'm just too laid back.
@StrawberryBee: I wonder if that is any indication? I'm carrying super low too and I've had that said to me as well. I'm hoping he comes early (but not tooooo early!). I also already have a couple of nursing tanks. I don't think you need to wait around to get those (bra maybe, I still don't have one, but tanks no). I LOVE the nursing tank I got from Thyme. It's super comfy and I love the accessibility to the booby part way better than a couple of really cheapies I bought from walmart.
@Modern Daisy: I noticed that too! People LOVE baby blankets! So bizarre.
@Grace: I can totally see how having a birth plan go wrong or even slightly off course could make PPD worse. That's one of the reasons I'm trying really hard to have a very "go with the flow" attitude about ALL of it. Delivery, Breastfeeding, Postpartum, etc. I want to enjoy my baby and family as much as possible and whatever way that is, I will do it.
AFM: Had a prenatal appointment this morning and everything looks good! She doesn't like that my heart burn is so bad so she gave me a prescription for some stronger TUM-like tablets that should help a lot more than popping TUMS like candy.
Also, totally a scary though, in two weeks I have my LAST every 2 week appointment. From then on I go every week. Say whaaaaaaaat.
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Oh, also, I have recently been paranoid (irrationally so) about squishing or bending or breaking our baby. I asked my doctor today and she giggled at me and said that no day-to-day task would wreck our baby. So, just FYI to anyone else thinking you might have squished a head or broken a back and/or limb....
Or, am I the only one who's had these fears?
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@Grace: This is why I am THRILLED to be birthing in a hospital with a midwife and a doula. Lots of people think I'm bizarre, but I know that when push comes to shove (lol), I probably won't have the guts to be my own advocate. Things like unnecessary IVs, pitocin drips, etc because the OBs/nurses might have an agenda terrify me. I've also heard the same thing about birth plans; how people tend to focus on the birth plan as the "perfect" way to give birth, and then when it doesn't happen, women beat themselves up.
I hadn't thought about my deadlines, but I'm aiming for:
1. Nursery prep: 37 weeks
2. Hospital bag packed: 36 weeks (or sooner)
3. Everything else: while I'm on mat leave (starting July 26).
Usually I like to be more prepared, sooner...but I'm just TOO exhausted! -
@.twist.: YES!!!! Especially when I lie on my side at night and the baby is pummelling the mattress, I totally think I'm squishing him and he's protesting!!!
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@.twist.: DH ALWAYS tells me that I'm squishing her, and that's why she's kicking/punching so hard. I'm like...no really, I'm allowed to sleep on my side. Haha.
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@Grace: @redsmarties: haha I have been really paranoid if I bend over too much! I just keep thinking, "OMG where is your head and how can your body bend that way!?" I must have a really warped image of what the inside of my uterus is like...
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I hope I'm not too late to get in on the survey!
1. Have you started the nursery?
Yes, to the point of getting other stuff moved out of the room and the baby stuff moved in, but it's currently a sad looking room with no decorations (art, curtains, etc.)2. Who will be in the delivery room with you?
DH and my mom if she arrives before the baby does.
3. What is your biggest fear about delivery?
Complications and interventions. I would really like to avoid a C-section.4. What is your biggest fear postpartum?
That I will totally fall apart and be totally bitchy to DH, crying all the time, and so on. I like to get a lot of sleep so I'm terrified of what the combination of sleep deprivation and hormones will do to me!5. Besides baby, what are you looking forward to postpartum?
Hmm, I miss summer cocktails but I don't think I'll be drinking that often while breastfeeding, so that's not a huge postpartum draw for me. Sleeping more comfortably, I guess? Except I'll be waking up all the time!6. What's one think you've learned from being pregnant?
Morning sickness is a totally inaccurate name. I mean, I knew it wasn't just in the morning, but I still didn't really realize what it would really be like... 7. Belly button: Innie or outie?
I'm glad this is on the survey because I was wondering about the rest of you! Mine is kind of a half-moon with the top portion laying flat/sticking out a tiny bit, but the bottom section still going in. I think it might not pop out much more but I could be wrong... -
@chanzi: Never too late and my belly button is kinda the same way! I wish I would just make up it's mind!
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@Grace: Understood, and it's nice to know that someone in the class asked specifically about being labeled an annoyance ;). If I have time to I'll bake cookies to charm them to my cause (ha!).
You bring up a very good point though; I need to go over the birth plan with DH and make sure that he understands the reason why for each item. I'm trying to be very open-minded in it; I recognize that there's a time and a place for every intervention.
I won't have the same nurse throughout, but I do know a maternity nurse at a different hospital, so my plan is to facebook chat her when we're there and see if she can hook me up with a good set of nurses at my hospital ;).
@.twist.: I think paying a maid service to do a good clean of the house is an awesome idea! I wish I could somehow bathe the dogs by proxy (they would freak if I took them to be groomed, and my DH is highly allergic). I want them to look nice for pictures ;).
Thanks for the heads-up on Thyme nursing tanks! I think I'll check out BRU and Target this weekend to see if anything fits right.
I think my hip pain is starting to fade again; it seems to go in cycles.
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With regard to the birthing plan discussion...DH knows (and I have been reminding him) to ask plenty of questions while we are there and insist on time to discuss options when time is available. The only thing I will tell my doctors is that I'd like to avoid a C-section if possible - but ultimately I am open to it if it means a healthy baby.
I have watched two close friends go through PPD severely from birth plans gone wrong - as a result I am doing my best to take a "go with the flow" approach. I told DH I'd like to avoid an epi if possible - but if I end up wanting it make me think twice but then let me be. Otherwise, thats it - my birth plan = happy baby.
I guess since I dont have strong opinions one way or the other if something my nurse does makes her happier and therefore leads to a better experience for me I guess I am fine with it.
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@Mrs D: Holy Lists!! Love them! One vital thing that my husband brought for M's delivery was an extension cord with room for two plugs. Lifesaver!
@skipper2010: I was using Purex Free & Clear and continued with M after she was born. I've been super itchy lately, I looked at the ingredients and it contains sulfates (I'm highly sensitive to them) so I switched to ECOS and it seems to be working well. Since I have such sensitive skin, I try to use the same detergent for everyone since I have to touch it.
@Grace: Ack, how are you feeling now? There is definitely something about being told you can't do something that makes you want to do it even more!! Hope you don't have to stay on rest too long
I had my weekly visit today, and another cervical check, still shortening and now softening. He didn't seem to alarmed though, he'd spoke with a high risk OB last week and they went over my charts and thought I was "ok".
He said no more heels since my calves are starting to swell (weird), but I'm so short that all my pants drag on the floor in flats, come on warmer dryer weather!
He's out of town next week so I get to skip that appt, and go back in on the 3rd.I'm so anxious for my husband to get home from training, 20 days is far too many! I want to get the room organized, both rooms - ours and the girls!
I still need to buy so many clothes, and some A&A easy swaddles. I loved our SwaddleMe's but they seem so heavy, I want something light for the summer time, M was a fall baby. Oh and bottles, still need to pick those up. Breastfeeding does not work for me, I've tried it twice.. I also need to get working on packing my bag..
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@StbHisMrs: Oh, I feel fine, thanks. After a couple hours my heartrate came down and I'm back to work tommorow.
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@Mrs D: That's exactly my birth plan as well!
I did also fill out a checklist birth plan for my nurse partner. For me it was mainly helpful because the list came from my hospital so it was a quick way for to get an overview of my options without asking a million questions.
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@skipper2010: I don’t really have a birth plan either. I just want to go with the flow in order to safely deliver a healthy baby. Plus, this pregnancy has been making me sure laid back/chill so I didn’t have any demands while pregnant, and don’t plan to start. Ha! I’m loosely writing one for some preferences like, I’d love to do skin-to-skin contact immediately upon birth if delivered vaginally, or ASAP if a c-section is performed. Or that I’d want the hubby to stay with DS if he ever needs to leave my side for testing, etc.
@Modern Daisy: Yay for a stress-free shower!!
@.twist.: I totally feel ya on being laid back. DS is making me a totally chill person, and that’s so not me! I’m your typical Type-A person. Today’s my last “every 2 week appointment” also! Starting with my next appointment, it’s weekly, which means we’re down to about a month!! Eep!!!
I also feel like I squish our baby! I lean over my belly onto my desk and I feel like I’m squishing him because he moves more when I do that. Or when I lay on my side, but more on my belly than side, I’m afraid I’m squishing him, as @grace: mentioned. Good to know we aren’t!@StbHisMrs: Your cervix is already softening and shortening?! Wow!!
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@lawbee11: beautiful name!!! Love it. Sounds like such a great time!
@StrawberryBee: Me too! Even though I'm due the 12th! The little guy is really low and moving so so much! Not too early though!
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@Mrs D: awesome lists! Thanks for sharing those. The mom post delivery list is a bit scary.
You guys are so on top of things with your birth plans! We have our pre admit at the hospital next Tuesday and go over everything then. I'll have to check out some of the links posted above. I'm not opposed to an Epi but I would like to try and make it through without. However, watching the labour videos during our prenatal class this week, I'm not so sure I can make it without. Yikes!
We took baby to its first concert last night: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It was nice to have a date night with DH as I'm sure those are go g to become few and far between. I definitely was googling "loud rock music and pregnancy" when I got home to make sure my baby's ears are ok. It was so loud, but seems as though they are pretty protected in there!
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@delight: Oh yea, babes should be fine. I have spent a lot of time going to really loud shows and have had a lot of friends pregnant and going as well. One of my good friends was even in a punk band while pregnant and played a lot of shows.
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@.twist.: oh ok that's reassuring. I just noticed babe was moving around a lot, and startling at some loud noises. I'd feel awful if babe had hearing loss because I went to see Tom Petty!
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@Alivoo01: Yep, we had to do another u/s to see how short it is, I'm on the last stage of "ok" in his words : /
I'm not dilated though, otherwise I'd be on full blown bed rest! -
I'm really glad to hear that about loud music! I was at a wedding on Sat and the music was so loud I was really worried. But the baby was actually dancing to the music so I know he liked it lol!
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Soooo, any of you ladies stalking the June/July boards? I am!
I seriously can't believe there are only 6 weeks left for me. Where the heck has the time gone, I'm suddenly nervous! I'm going to be a mom in 6 weeks!
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@StbHisMrs: Good to know about the detergent! Thanks! Must be tough to have your husband gone for such a long time, but he'll be back before you know it. Are you the one with the scheduled c-section? (Sorry it's sometimes hard to keep everyone straight) If so, not much longer to go! Hope baby stays put!
@delight: I've been to a couple loud concerts this pregnancy and also googled "loud rock music and pregnancy". I think I remember reading that you would need repeat exposure to high decibels for it to do anything to baby's ears. A few rock concerts here and there shouldn't do any harm I don't think.
@.twist.: I've totally been stalking the June/July boards! Can't believe that's going to be us soon!!!
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@skipper2010: It's nice in the beginning because I can get so much clutter (read his mail that he keeps for ages) cleared out! Then it gets old, and I could really use his help
No I don't have a scheduled c-section, it is hard to keep up!! -
Eeeeeh! Came home today and DH was instant that I move some book into the office. I go in and he has cleared out almost all of the room! The only thing left the is office related is a bookshelf!
The room is dirty but I still took a pic to share, lol
This is my future bebe's room!
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@.twist.: ahhhhhh! You win this time
This is the state my bebe's room is in. Need to be completely cleared out, painted, and need to get furniture. Yours looks ready for nursery completion!
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Wow, you guys are so talkative. I've been out of the conversation for the last few days because I only have my phone and it's such a pain to type on there. But wow, some of you guys... are making me feel really bad that we still just have an office.
And wow, MrsD - those are some crazy lists. Half helpful, half anxiety inducing, haha. But thanks for sharing definitely a few things on there I hadn't really considered!
@.twist.: I was peeking at the July boards today and wanting to see if anybody there had had their babies. With the idea that they might induce at 37-38 weeks I've become obsessed with the slightly early babies, and their birth stories. What an awesome surprise! I keep meaning to work on cleaning up stuff, but after working all day all I want to do is crash out on the couch.
@.twist.:
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Holy this board moves so fast it's hard to keep up!
I'm trying not to do a birth plan. The only thing I'm extremely set on is that my MIL will not be around before, during or after the birth
Aside from that I don't want to be too set in any way just because I want to try and keep as relaxed as possible. If I have a plan and something doesn't go right, then I will not be relaxed haha. My hormones have been absolutely out of control these last two days. I cannot stop crying. For no reason at all. My husband has been really great, and super supportive which I'm thankful for. I hope this doesn't last long, it happened once or twice earlier and I seemed to level out after a couple days so I hope this one is the same. I think babe is going through a growth spurt as I'm pretty sure my bump has doubled in size in about three days. I have my dr appt tomorrow so I hope I can keep everything under control as I've never met this Dr before. ( I go to a group of about 9 Dr's)
I started to paint the nursery today, I'm really anxious to get it all set up for some reason. I have my shower next weekend so I think I might be getting a couple decorations I picked out for it from my mom, so I'm kind of excited for that. Not many people can come to my shower as it's on the long weekend ( Canada Day weekend ) I didn't realize that when we picked the date. Oh well, I don't really like these anyways for whatever reason.
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@StbHisMrs: I'll be keeping my fingers crossed you hang out in that "ok" stage!
@.twist.: ya, I cant think about the fact that I will have a newborn to care for here in the next 10 weeks - terrifies me! Bebe's room looks great!!!
@Sapphiresun: You know - I kinda panicked when I opened up those lists the other day to copy over here - I bet most of you have half the stuff (except maybe the Mom Post Partum stuff) so really - its not SO overwhelming if you look at it and think from the "what do I need to get". Plus, keep in mind that is like 10 peoples opinions added up - not one person needed all of those things!
(started out a DD. I don't think I've gotten much bigger, but I have a problem picking out normal bras in brick and mortar stores).
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