Hellobee Boards

@Smurfette: Ohhh, yeah, I think I've heard the vitamin E thing before too. Mine doesn't have vitamin E I don't think... I'll definitely need to buy something new!

@aprk: @Smurfette: I think I was reading another thread about stretch marks and it seemed like the majority of women didn't get them until after 36 weeks, so even if you don't have them now, they may still be coming! I'm worried that since I already started to get some that it will only get worse!

Whoops apparently i havent been on here to update in like 5 pages of stuff- so I am just going to try and catch up as much as possible!

EDD: March 31, 2013
How many weeks/days: 28 weeks 3 days
Team: Blue
Baby name: Narrowed it down to 4
Recent Milestone:
Weight gain: 11lbs at my last appt. thinking at my appt tomorrow its goign to be more like 15
Next Appointment: Tomorrow am! Repeat glucose test, RH factor shots since i am negative, and hopefully get to see the baby- its been awhile!
Nursery status: DONE (for the most part!!) Just waiting on the crib and bedding
Most annoying symptom: heartburn.... its horrible.
What you are looking forward to most: meeting my little man!
How you are feeling: Good!
Is the third trimester what you expected?:
What you are researching: Day care options and peditricians
What you have left to buy: Waiting till we have our shower to see what we need to get!
Is your hospital bag packed?: Nope
Have you had your baby shower?: Nope- Feb 2nd since we are due at the end of March!
What are you most worried about?: Only having a month off after the baby is born, having to actually birth a child, being a parent, everything in my life changing... AHHH.
Upload a recent bump photo!: Will do as soon as I take one!

Ladies, you know what? Labor isn't that bad. I mean...it's not fun. But, it's not bad. The best part is that immediately after you push that kid out, all the contractions stop (except a few mild ones to push the placenta out...then after that they totally stop) and you're not pregnant anymore. And you have a baby! The journey in between labor starting and the end isn't the best, but it's a pain that has a good purpose.

Don't worry, your girly parts won't be destroyed forever, lol.

My best advice to share, which is something my ex-sister in law shared with me, is that when it's time to push, push like you're pooping. From the back, not the front.

As far as stretch marks, yep, I got them. I haven't seen any new ones since my first pregnancy, though. But, I had been pregnant, then gained weight, and then lost a lot of weight, so I'm wondering if my belly will really stretch much more? We'll see I suppose.

As for being ready: I'm glad I got some more time. I have clothes for her, but nothing else, yet. I have a crib and a stroller, but it's at my mom's house. No diapers...I do have my boobs, though, so she wouldn't be hungry if she were here right this second, lol.

Looks like my shower is going to be Feb 3. That's all I know...I don't even know where it's going to be! No more letting my mom and MIL plan anything. They're terrible, lol.

@aprk: That's not bad. It sounds like a fluke. 144 is really low borderline. If you had any sickness at all, or didn't eat or fast quit the right amount, it can throw it all off. You'll probably pass a 3 hour test.

@sheskrafty: Oh no, sorry about your glucose test!!! That's a total bummer!!! I hope it doesn't affect you too much! It's crazy to think you may end up gaining less than 8 lbs for the whole pregnancy!

Oooh, your nursery is grey as well?? When you're done furnishing it, you'll have to post pictures so we can see it!

@cheert16: Your nursery is done??? Post pics!!! Bummer you have to do the glucose test again - I hope you pass!!!

@Smurfette: Gahh, so jealous you've booked a newborn photographer! I'm just planning on trying to do a photo shoot myself with my own camera, but I know it won't turn out as fabulous as a professional shoot would!

@katiew92081: Thanks for the encouraging words about labor and the advice!! I feel like with all this constipation I've had, I'm an expert at pushing now, so maybe it won't be so bad, haha!

That's awesome that you have a shower date set! That's always a good first step! Hopefully your mom and MIL will get more of the details ironed out soon!

@aprk: Blah, I'm sorry you failed!! I've heard it's REALLY easy to fail the 1-hour test though, so hopefully you'll do better at the next test! Plus I think 144 isn't that far above where you should be, so I suspect with fasting and stuff, you'll pass the next one. Do you have it scheduled yet?

@aprk: I think you'll be fine though because if you were at 144 after 1 hour without fasting, I have to imagine you'll be under 130 after 3 hours with fasting!!

@Smurfette: Jealous you have the newest Canon! I have the Canon T2i, but I got it two years ago because I wanted to practice with it LONG before we had a baby. I'm definitely not a pro with it or anything, but I think I'm passable, and I have the 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, which makes everything look fabulous, so I'm hoping I'll be able to manage some decent pictures on my own! But I guarantee the ones you have done professionally will definitely be better! It's exciting to think that in a couple months, we'll all be having our babies and then posting baby pictures instead of bump pictures!

@sheskrafty: Sorry to hear that you failed your glucose test! It sounds like you have been doing an awesome job, though, staying healthy and eating well! 8lbs is fantastic. Glad to hear that everything else is going so well too.
@cheert16: @aprk: Good luck on your repeat tests! I had to take the 3 hour test as well, and it wasn't so bad. Just bring a snack for right afterwards!
@Smurfette: The tutu idea sounds so cute! I am trying to figure out if we want any props/special outfits for our newborn shoot. I think it's harder with boys!

I'm trying to get in gear this week and take care of some "nesting" stuff. We hired a cleaning service to come once per month starting at the end of the month, which I am incredibly excited about. We also went to Ikea and bought some of the finishing touches for the nursery: lamp, drawer organizers, etc. We probably won't actually "finish" it, though, until next month. We have a huge stack of boxes -- the pack and play, the car seat, an extra car seat base, the stroller, etc -- shoved in a corner, so we'll have to deal with that stuff first!

I also just spent too much time trying to learn Martha Stewart's way of folding fitted sheets. Ha.

@Adira: I will post pictures Friday (my day off!)- i have to charge my camera battery up and take them and upload them and when i get home from work i am way too tired to do all that! Haha.

@Smurfette: I also got the Cannon T4 for Christmas! I just need to learn how to use it now!
Also I am obcessed with getting a monkey hat and diaper cover with a tail for our little man for his newborn photo shoot! (which reminds me I need to e-mail the photographer)

@mole: soooo jealous of you hiring a lceaning service- perhaps I will give myself that as a push present! Ha

@sheskrafty: Sorry to hear about your GT. Do they just put you on a restricted diet now? That is SO awesome about your ultrasound! I can't believe they can see the hair! I hope we can see hair in our u/s next week! DH's family ALL seem to come out BALD and have no hair for like 2 years! If she takes after their genes, poor girl! I'm hoping she'll be like my family and at least have some nice, soft, wispy hair. SO nice about your Chicago baby shower and GCs!

@cheert16: I'm also jealous of your small weight gain! Congrats on getting your nursery almost all done!!! I am waiting on the shower to finish deciding on the crib bedding too. Not sure if we'll receive any crib sheets and my aunt was going to make my crib skirt, but I haven't heard anything about it yet. Everything else I like seems so pricey! Post some pics when you are done! And the monkey suits KILL me! I LOVE sock monkeys!

@Smurfette: Yay for booking your photographer! Isn't that exciting? Yeah, I just want to look for props and stuff on Etsy too! How do you like your camera so far? I think my mom is going to get me the Nikon D5100 that I want. I think I could do some stuff and attempt some newborn photography too, but no way as good as the professional and that's not something I want to mess up! You only get like 10 days to do those cute propped up and snuggly positions! DH didn't get an option either!

@katiew92081: Thanks for the reassurance and tip! I'm scared of pushing from the back since I'm already having H-issues back there from constipation too. Yay for getting your shower date set! Exciting stuff!

@aprk: Sorry about your test too. he number sounds really close though? Will they just monitor it?

@Adira: Ooh! I've seen pics from using that Canon lens and they all look GORGEOUS! You'll definitely get great pics yourself! I'm hoping to get a 35mm f1.8 lens too!

@mole: Oh there are definitely some really cute props for boy's newborn photography too! Check out my Pinterest for ideas if you want - not sure what your taste/hobbies are, but I have a ton pinned! http://pinterest.com/diamonds8tulle/babeland/
- Nice on the cleaning lady! I plan to have someone come the month before, maybe while we are in the hospital if I can swing it (or after we get back), and at least the month or two afterwards. We also have stacks of boxes forming here and there now. Stroller, car seat, swings, etc. I just have no idea what it will look like once everything is opened, being used, and spread out! Scary!
P.S. Martha-style folding sheets is so time consuming but I love it!

@Adira: Yeah, @photojane: recommended it. It's over $200 for the Nikon one, so I probably wouldn't get it right away even if mom gifts us the D5100. But if we have extra Amazon GCs I know what I'm saving up for! I already have a D3000 (old model) so I'm not going to be too greedy and insist on certain things, but I just know the pics turn out so much better.

Check out this blog post from one of my favorite bloggers (after she got that Canon 50mm f1.8 lens: http://www.kellimurray.com/2013/01/04/a-bookworm-a-50mm-lens/

@shopaholic: I think that is the Nikon DH was deciding between. But I liked the feel of the Canon better for some reason. This is the bundle we bought
http://www.costco.com/Canon-T4i-DSLR-Camera-2-Lens-Bundle.product.100025018.html
I peaked at your pinterest board and we got that Suzette Blabla Doll from the IL's for Christmas. Not the giant one though.

Hey mamas to be.. when do you get the results of your 1 hr glucose test and how long did it take? I took my test on Dec 28th and today's Jan 8th and I haven't heard from anyone... not the lab, not my doctor, nothing. So I'm just assuming the results were normal and I'm still eating as usual... (insert sneaky smile).

I do have an appt with my OB tmr so I'm sure she'll go over the results with me. I was just a little hopeful that no news meant good news.

@mole: Yay for baby being head down. the next few weeks will definitely fly by!

@Smurfette: Yeah, that is the one I was originally asking for too. So many HB'ers love that one! I think Canons are more user-friendly from the get go, but since I've been using a Nikon for the past 3 years, I figured I should stick with what I already know and am comfortable with.

Yay and lucky on the Suzette BlaBla dolls! No one IRL I know knows about those I think except my sister. I was showing her all of them over Thanksgiving break and I *think* she is going to get us one!

@cokiezombie: I didn't do the 1hr test, just the 3hr test. I didn't hear back from the Dr. either. I had an appt. later in the same week and they just told me I passed at the appt. I think "no news = good news."

@mole: Yay for baby's position and all your appts! I'm getting super excited the closer we get!

@cokiezombie: When I was first pregnant, I had failed the glucose test and no one told me until my next appointment. It was so bad that I had my son a week later, due to weak membranes. My advice is that after a week or so is to call. Now, with this pregnancy, I knew right away, cause my midwife was using a glucose meter and showed me the numbers as soon as I took it. I passed.

@smurfette: September? So weird. I can't believe people are having babies after we are, haha.

@arden: I get overwhelmed, too. It's hard to filter through the things you wanna say, lol.

What are you packing for the birth center? I'm sure my midwife will go over it with me, but the fact that it's not an overnight stay after I have the baby, I'm not sure, then, what exactly I should bring. I know basics, like diapers and the baby's clothes and clothes for me for after. Just wondering what I shouldn't bother with, lol. I still haven't even bought diapers, yet! I should, soon, I know.

@katiew92081: My midwife gave me a short list, but I'm packing a lot of extra stuff because we live far away from the birth center and I would just rather have the extra things in the car if we need them.

This is the list she gave me though:
Clothes for you during and after birth (including socks, underwear, night gown, nursing top, and a bathing suit top for the tub)
Toiletries
Clothes for baby
Diapers and wipes
Car seat
Identification and insurance cards in case of transfer to hospital
Food and drinks (including juice)

This is my post about what I'm packing though (a lot!). http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/packing-my-birth-center-bags

Edit: One of the reasons I'm bringing a lot of extras is that my birth center has an overnight room for families that would prefer to spend the night and go home the next day. Since we're almost an hour away, we might end up opting to spend the night, so I'd like to have anything I may need with me just in case.

@Adira: @shopaholic: I have my fingers crossed that no news is good news! i'll update you guys after my OB appt later today.

@katiew92081: You're right.. I should be more pro-active in calling my OB to confirm the GD test results!