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@Mrs.KMM: I should have also added that everyone should post photos!

@78h2o: I did had a doula and an unmedicated hospital birth for LO1. I planned to ask for the only tub room but my doula actually advised against it. Her concern was that my hospital requires you to get out at a certain point (I don't recall when it was, maybe transition) and that in her experience making the woman leave her comfortable place at that time to go get into bed was more likely to cause labor to stall. Whatever she had seen in her personal experience made her very anti-hospital tub. I didn't look into it further but it might be something to consider when looking for tubs.

The hospital was full when I delivered anyway. Even if I planned on getting a tub I wouldn't have gotten it. It took hours before I even got a room so I'm glad I wasn't mentally preparing for it.

@Corduroy: Yeah, that's a good point about the tub. I think the hospitals that have them only have 2-3 tubs, and I have heard they are are subject to availability. So probably not worth switching practices over. I also didn't think about the fact that they'd make me get out, which is probably what they would do in the hospital... so yeah... I think switching is out of the question. Thanks for your input! I will talk to DH about the doula, but he probably won't go for spending the $. I'll probably just try to do it on my own without an epi, or if I get one, try to labor down as long a possible before pushing. I pushed really hard the first time around, which is maybe why I have this issue now? My daughter was pretty big though and in a poor position (born hand first), so I didn't have much of a choice but to push really hard.

@MrsBrewer: I know what you mean! I am having two separate showers (divorced parents) and my mom is using this opportunity to invite alllllll her friends. Really this is for her. She invited 80 people!!! That's how many people came to my wedding. lol. Hope your shower is lots of fun!

@Mrs.KMM: Can't wait to see photos!

My shower is next weekend! Then the weekend after, I fly to MI for SIL's shower (but sorta joint in some ways? I don't know).

We're planning on an unmedicated birth with a doula, primarily because it will only be me and DH there - no family, etc.

DH and I are meeting with some doulas tomorrow. We have been on the fence about it because of cost, but I think I've found a few that could work. Anyone else interviewed someone? What questions did you ask?

@LindsayInNY: Have you hired someone?

@LindsayInNY: @MamaB: I have been thinking about a doula, but I don't think we have any extra money in our budget for one at all. I think they would be an amazing asset to have though at the birth!!

@LindsayInNY: hmm maybe it's worth looking into then. Because I would love to spend only a few hundred. But since I'm in WI we are obviously not a huge city like NYC. You may have just opened a window for me

The doula I emailed the other day said it would be around 1k...I don't think my husband will be on board. I need to look some more.

Hi ladies! How was everyone's weekend?

We ended up hiring a doula that we met this weekend. DH and I both clicked with her, and we felt like it was a no-brainer.

@rpparker: My energy has been okay, but I feel super hormonal all of a sudden. I woke up on Saturday feeling huge and uncomfortable... I think maybe baby's position changed. I have found myself crying really easily. I decided to look at my Belly Book from my first pregnancy, and I saw for the 34 week entry a picture of flowers my husband had bought me because I was crying like crazy and he didn't know what else to do! Looks like I am following the same pattern, as I am currently 34 weeks and a total mess!

34 weeks (measuring 35)

@78h2o: You look great. I've been feeling hormonal too but I get super angry. I had to leave work early on Friday because I was being too crazy. I was throwing tantrums like my 2 year old (in the illogical and immaturity sense, no actual kicking and screaming). Ugh, I am so not proud of that. I could physically feel the hormones pumping in my veins, I recognized I was being crazy, even apologized for it, but I could not stop it. Total verbal diarrhea in person and in email. LO is home sick today so I haven't had to face my boss and coworkers yet.

@Eko: awww that's so sweet!! I really wanted one of those shirts!! I might still end up buying one for the game!

@MrsBrewer: @Eko: Loft Maternity also had a really cute baseball tshirt I got a few weeks ago during one of their sales for a ball game!

Not to open a big can of worms but what is everyone's plan regarding work post baby? DH and I started going through some of the numbers last night and it's all so overwhelming. For the most part, I really love my job and would like to return but the thought of full time daycare also makes me really sad! I just can't imagine the stress of working all day, racing home to make dinner/take care of the house and dog, and then to only have a few hours (if that!) with the baby before bed.

The plan right now is for me to take 8 weeks off and then come back to work 2 days/week for 4 weeks, and then 3 days/week for 4 weeks. During my part-time work we are going to have family switch out watching the baby but both sets of grandparents live out of town so that can't be a permanent solution. We are on the wait list at 2 day cares and enrolled in the lottery for a 3rd.

I know that even if I did have a plan past mid-September/October it would most likely change after LO arrives but just thinking about it stresses me out. Staying at home is a possibility but it would be very tight financially for the first few months and I worry about how it will change my relationship with DH, long term financial stability (not contributing to retirement, etc.), and just overall family dynamics.

Thanks for letting me at least vent and I would love to hear what everyone else is thinking and/or advice on how you waded through all these decisions.

@MrsBrewer: I'm hoping I can go to part time too but I really have no idea how to make the ask. I work for a small non-profit so there is already some flexibility so it will just be dependent on how generous and flexible my boss is feeling!

@78h2o: Looking good mama!!!

@rpparker: I'm taking 12 weeks off work since that's all that is fully paid. Plus I need manager approval for time beyond that (at less than full pay) and since my coworker will also be out on leave, it won't happen. We have daycare lined up for mid/end of September.

@Eko: 18 weeks sounds really nice! I'm really just taking my 12 weeks and stretching it over 16 weeks.

@LindsayInNY: I have a co-worker whose wife is having a baby around the same time but he is just planning on taking 2 weeks vacation. It has increased the stress around my leave though since it will make our small staff that much smaller (only 7 people work here full time)!

@MamaB: Oh that sounds really ideal!

I had my 34 week appt today. Everything's looking good. He's now positioned as oblique, so two weeks from now I'll have an ultrasound to see if he's head down by then at 36 weeks.

I'm taking 16 weeks off paid. My work changed the maternity leave last month.

@Mrs.KMM: looking good!

@rpparker: My current plan is to go back to work after baby. Of course, I will have to see what life is like with two kiddos, but that is the plan!

I was surprised...I thought it would be really hard to go back to work after DD#1 was born, but I actually was pretty ready to go back by the end of my maternity leave. I found that I missed my job and enjoyed having some "me" time where I wasn't constantly needed by baby. We weren't able to get a daycare spot until Sept 1, so that's when I'll be going back. I'll be using up all my sick leave and vacation, but I should get my normal paycheck the whole time, which will be good. I technically work full-time at ~28-30 hrs/wk, but obviously it is less than other full-time jobs. I work 3 long days a week, which allows me more time with baby if I choose. For me, I think it is the best of both worlds. I do think that WOTH w/ children is fairly stressful - with daycare drop offs/pick ups, commute, etc., but I don't feel like I am missing out too much on quality time with LO. I feel like we still have a lot of fun together when I see her and she is getting a great education at school. Her daycare/preschool sends me at least 5-10 pictures/videos of her daily activities... every single day she is read multiple stories, sings songs, does art projects, plays on the playground, plays games, etc. - it's more than I could do with her at home, for sure.