Hellobee Boards

I don't mind sharing her name when someone asks. We're pretty settled on one. I always say that we may end up changing our minds. I doubt it though. Once DH finds a name he likes he gets set on it.

This is nothing but whining, so feel free to skip past this.

February needs to die a quick death. We have had nothing but sickness at our house (flu, two other viruses, and one sinus infection just in the kids), DH and I have both been battling terrible allergies that I'm pretty sure have morphed into sinus infections, DH is leaving today for the week for work, and I just want to have a pity party and be able to take good medicine and not freaking Tylenol (I'm taking basically everything that's on my OB's approved OTC list already for the allergies/sinus stuff). I know this summer is going to be hot and I'll wish it was cooler weather again, but right now, I just want spring and the end of the cold & flu season.

Pity party over (or at least I'll stop verbalizing it). On a positive note, I had an appointment Friday. Everything went well.

Back from vacation! I'm at work now, so I'm catching up, which is super sad, lol. I kinda read through what I missed. Glad everything has been going well here!

For those who are going to be having #2 (or have more than 2), do have you looked into strollers yet? I'm trying to find a compact double stroller. We have the Chicco Liteway Plus now, which is perfect for 1, and we loved that we could click the infant seat into it. We need something more umbrella like (or not bulky), since we'd mostly be using it on vacation (so it would need to fit in a car trunk with the rest of our luggage) or trips to the zoo/other area day trips, which happen only occasionally.

Or, if anyone has any favorite infant carriers I'm looking at those, too. We have a k'tan, but my son wasn't a fan of being carried. I'll probably want something that I can have newborns in!

I have no clue what kind of double stroller to get. I think I'll need something side by side that I can clip a car seat adapter into. On my list for baby #2 is

-crib
-white noise machine
-second car seat base
-video monitor
-double stroller
-curtains and art for nursery

Um, that's it I think. I'm probably forgetting something obvious.

@pmerr: @Mrs. Pickle: For what it's worth, this is similar to what we got after G was born, and we loved it. It's nice because you could put the carrier in the front or back position when you're still using the infant carrier. Then when he was big enough to sit in the front seat, the toddler could either sit on the bench or stand. And in case anyone is crazy and goes for three kids, it actually still works for all three kids. One sits in the front seat, one sits on the bench, and one stands on the platform.

Added perk: It's cheap, light, and easy to fold.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Baby-Trend-Sit-N-Stand-Ultra-Stroller-Millennium/34426601?action=product_interest&action_type=title&beacon_version=1.0.2&bucket_id=irsbucketdefault&client_guid=571a746a-57e3-4093-8e08-c518e35331d9&config_id=106&customer_id_enc&findingMethod=p13n&guid=571a746a-57e3-4093-8e08-c518e35331d9&item_id=34426601&parent_anchor_item_id=17689557&parent_item_id=17689557&placement_id=irs-106-t1&reporter=recommendations&source=new_site&strategy=PWVUB&visitor_id=WddND1l5Uu9WiDePeWz1L4

I think at this point we are skipping the double stroller. I might get a piggyback board for our Cruz. At 3, DD still loves to ride in the Tula or walk and I've got a ring sling and boba wrap for LO #2. So far I have bought a Nuna leaf for another baby holder. Thinking we'll get another monitor, white noise machine and a new pump from insurance. Not sure what else besides clothes!

@Mrs. Pickle: You'll be surprised how much she'll change in the next year! But when G was little a lot of times I would put a twin in the front part (bucked) and put the infant carrier in the back part, so it still might work for what you're wanting.

Ohhh I forgot. i'll be looking into a new pump. I'll be seeing what I can do through insurance. I'm trying to decide if I should just get a newer Medela PISA, or try something new. I have no clue what my old pump is now working like after sitting in storage for 4 years (by the time I actually use it again).

@Mrs. Blue: That's the kind of stroller I want. We don't use a bucket but once the baby is big enough to sit up I think it'll be really good.

@pmerr: I loooooove our Tula. I accidentally bought the toddler size, which was fine since LO was already big enough, but it means I'll need a new one for the baby that's regular size. (Not really complaining about an excuse to get another. ) I used a stretchy wrap a lot when LO was little so I'll probably pull that back out too.

@Cole: The Tula and stroller are the only things really on my list for #2. I think we'll get plenty of boy clothes as gifts since everyone is so excited for a boy. I would like a futon or something similar for the playroom. We currently have a glider (which I would put in the family room) but it's not wide enough to nurse and have LO next to me. I want to be able to sit with her and read when I'm holding the baby.

At the midwife enjoying my hour of quiet during my early GD test. Definitely worth having to drink the crap. Though shouldn't they have done a "before" blood draw?

@Mrs. Pickle: I have had bh for the last week. And this morning they actually woke me up! Not painful for me, but a definite tightening of the uterus, so it feels like a hard softball. I got then at about 14 weeks last time too, but they weren't painful until 28weeks or so. @Torchwood: had them way worse than I did, and an early labor too.

@Mrs. Pickle: Mine started around 10 weeks with this pregnancy and the last (and I guess they might have the time before that too, but I wouldn't have recognized them). I couldn't feel my uterus initially, but at this point if I'm laying on my back I can poke it and it's clearly hard. For me it's totally not painful but feels like a tightening in my lower abdomen and it feels weirdly like it's pulling down from about mid chest. It makes it a little hard to breathe, but less so now than I know it will later on.

It can't hurt to make sure your doctor knows what's going on, but I was told MANY times by midwives and MFM that it's nothing to worry about as long as it's not really painful and there are no other signs of issues (bleeding, etc). Then again I had a preemie due to premature labor so I don't really know anymore. But they were every 2 minutes at times so that's way more extreme than normal.

So I'm seeing maternal fetal medicine this pregnancy for the history of preeclampsia, and apparently they do anatomy scans early - mine's tomorrow at only 17 weeks! It feels pretty unreal because 20 weeks is the normal time in my mind (and was with DD1). DH is confused by the ultrasound schedule and figured we'd still be having a 20 week scan at the OB so he's not coming tomorrow (hadn't planned on taking off work). I'd always imagined having him there, so I hope there aren't any questions this time on the scan! (we had to have a follow-up scan with DD1 due to possible choroid plexus cysts)

@MrsBrewer: It's funny - depending on what I wear I either definitely look pregnant or can still mostly hide it. I think my bump has popped a lot this week, but wearing jeggings and a flowy shirt today and if someone doesn't know, I think they probably wouldn't guess.

@MrsBrewer: I had someone at work tell me I couldn't hide it much longer haha. Also, when we were on vacation, I had someone ask DS if he was going to be a big brother. The woman was just generally bold, so luckily for me I actually am pregnant, not just fat. At least I tried to make myself feel better by thinking I looked pregnant at the time!

@pmerr: So the MFM is doing the 17 week US and anticipated doing a 23 week one as well. He said if all looks well at 23 weeks I can probably "graduate" to normal OB care but would have the option to do monthly growth scans if I'm concerned. If he sees an increased risk of pre-e at the 17/23 week scans he will do monthly growth scans for sure.

I had some higher BP readings in the early 30-weeks last pregnancy but the pre-e didn't seem to really hit until 35 weeks. DD1 was huge at 37 weeks (8lb 12 oz) so not sure if the timing of the pre-e meant her growth wasn't threatened or what... I'm a little more concerned this time since I haven't gained any weight yet, though.

@peachykeen: Ahhh. My OB has already said that I'll be having monthly U/S. Last time, I had high BP reading in the 1st and 3rd tris, was sent to the hospital for a reading over 140/90 in the 3rd tri (but no pre-e at that point), and everything was fine until 38 weeks, which is when it developed (all the tests at 37 weeks were normal). DS was 7lb 9oz, so average. Not sure if my OB just wants to be cautious and watch out for any signs. She has me taking a baby aspirin each day.

You know what I was just thinking about.....for those of you that are 2nd, 3rd, etc time moms.......did you have to do blood work right away at the beginning of this pregnancy? I remember needing to do that with DD1, but I haven't had any blood work done yet for this one and I'm almost 16 weeks! Maybe it's different with each pregnancy??

@MommySLP: I thought so!! I wonder if it's an oversight on my midwife for not having any done? Hmm. I have an appt on Monday, I'll mention it then.

@littlejoy: We did NIPT so we already know sex (girl). It still doesn't feel real yet, though, so I'm anxious for confirmation

@MrsBrewer: I had my blood drawn at my first appointment for an STD test and a Zika test. The first is standard for all pregnancies at my OBs office. Then I had another blood draw at 10 weeks for my NIPT. I'm having my blood drawn again at 16 weeks for a different screening. I think my OB is considering me high risk though because of my DH's genetic condition.

I also had my appointment yesterday! It was super fast/easy, but these ones usually are. Everything is going well, I think she marked down I'm measuring 13 weeks (but she didn't say anything and I didn't ask). It took a while to find the heart beat. Baby kept moving, and then she had to wait for a baseline, but it was 158, which is down from 172. I go in for my ultrasound (I'll have monthly ones) on 4/4, so I'm super excited for that!