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@jetsa: 2 April Mamas had their babies! I happened to also stalk their DD thread - busted.

Happy Friday everyone!

I just wanted to share that I did a little digging into the breast pump thing, as I had decided to just go ahead and go with the Medela. I already have the Medela Freestyle, and I thought I could just call different companies that my insurance gave me until I found one that offered the Freestyle. Um nope. It looks like Medela itself only offers the PISA starter kit for insurance companies. However, one of them told me that some medical device companies will allow you to pay an upgrade from the PISA to get a Freestyle or basically allow you to upgrade on any of the brands of pumps. I am going to call the rest of the numbers they gave me today, but so far I haven't found anyone that offers the upgrade and also carries medela. I mean, it's fine if I end up with a PISA, but I'll be pumping in my car a lot (I am in it all day, in and out of doctor's offices) so I will use the Freestyle as my primary pump and I guess just have a PISA at home. I had really hoped I could get another Freestyle and all of the parts would match and I'd just have double of everything and not have to sort it all or keep track of different parts going to different pumps.

34 weeks today! My husband left for work for 3 weeks and will come home when I hit 37 weeks exactly! It's exciting to think that we'll be on Baby Watch when he returns!

We are pretty much ready. Nursery is done. The only thing I'm waiting on is her wooden letter name/monogram thing for a wall. That comes in April 11th and then I'll share pics:)

We got so much done this time that DH was home! I feel excited that we're at the home stretch and are prepared!

One other quick note for all the STM- At my appt on Tues, I had a couple of weird things going on and my doctor ended up doing a check on me just to make sure all was fine. She said that my "outer cervix" was a little open, which is not abnormal in women who have had kids before, but that my "inner cervix" was still closed. I did not know we had outer and inner cervixes, that was news to me, so I was just sharing as an fyi. You have two to keep track of, lol.

My next appt is my last biweekly appt, I go weekly after that, and she is going to strip my membranes at the next one and the ones thereafter. It didn't do anything for me when I was pregnant last time, but it still gives me something "fun" to look forward to! Never thought I'd be so excited to have something stripped internally:)

Hope everyone has a great Friday and weekend!

@SeptMomma12: I'm so annoyed with PBK! Still no coupons! I want to order towels, which is not a necessity. I'm just nesting:) I ordered new towels for our master as well, and it's just on of those weird things I have found imperative lately to do before baby comes:) But I do want a nursery wrap (the purple bunny!) before she gets here, so they need to quit being so stingy with the coupons!

@PrincessBaby: I know! I ordered a new duvet for our guest room because it was 20% off bedding but nothing on the PBK side I am hoping they do something for Easter. I feel like the last big coupons I got were MLK and Presidents weekends, so I guess that's the next holiday.

That's amazing how much you have done! Want to come to NJ next? We have the electrician coming today and the painter next week. Then the furniture will be delivered on the 30th and I can finally get started. Right now our house looks like it got attacked by Rubbermaid bins because I have so much baby stuff to sort through.

My son turned 2.5 last week and became a monster overnight. He has been miserable - not listening, totally defiant, tantrums, etc. And then decided last night he just didn't want to sleep at all. Never slept for more than a half hour from 11pm-5am. (Totally unlike him - he's a sleeper.) He better get this out of his system soon because he's killing me right now and I can't imagine how that behavior will work with a newborn

@BabyPenguinXO: Oh my gosh, what a deal! I cannot seem to keep up with or do well with coupons, but we shop at target all the time, so I should be able to figure it out! Thanks!

So glad you're all moved, too! I'm sure that feels great. Now, just "relax" and feel better while waiting for baby!

@blackbird: We are so incredibly close I just realized looking at iCal that next Friday is Mar 27th...My induction is scheduled for April 27, dang! Just a month away!

@SeptMomma12: We are also dealing with some type of sleep regression over here. H won't go to sleep on her own - she keeps getting out of bed until one of us gives in and lies down with her until she falls asleep. I don't have any idea why! She used to kiss us good night, roll over, and go to sleep by herself. And of course I'm pretty weak about it when she begs for me bc she's only my baby for 5 more weeks- max

@BabyPenguinXO: That is so impressive! I don't keep up with coupons- If I save one, then I never have it when I need it. So I don't even hang on to them bc I accept my failures Thank you for the PSA on the diapers! I love sales- no paper to hang onto!!!

@BabyPenguinXO: That is seriously impressive! I try to take advantage of those "buy two economy boxes, get a gift card" deals and Target and Babies R Us, but I've been lazy about it lately and just grabbing what I need at the supermarket. Thanks for next week's Target heads-up!

And have all of you decided on which pump you're going to do? Which are you going with and care to share the reasons?

@PrincessBaby: I'm getting the freemie! I think the discreet factor sold me. I already have a PISA and a Freestyle at home, though.

@SeptMomma12: I know, right?! lol. I bought a PiSA off a friend before the new laws came out. Got a Freestyle with E....now i'll get another one.

@PrincessBaby: okay so I figured it out! the freestyle hasn't been confirmed as closed system though it most likely is.. and the PISA isn't neccessarily closed system but milk really should not ever go in the tubes and into the system... if it does you're doing something totally wrong lol.

I'm uploading a photo for you.. the difference is the freestyle does not appear to have those yellow valves and the white membrane pieces.

the freestyle appears to have the membrane/valve pieces built into their connector pieces. The photo lables the pieces for you. the freestyle connector pieces look a little different.

So i guess, yes the little pieces are kind of a pain... the membranes (the white little rubber piece) can get lost easier and need to be replaced. However, Im not sure how the freestyle pieces come apart to be washed... so i guess it depends how easily you lose things i probably would not spend 150 on an upgrade just to not have to keep track of those 2 extra little pieces... i would just always have some back up membrane pieces in my pump gear worst case. sounds way cheaper! you could keep the pisa at home like you mentioned.

thats my 2 cents

Speaking of how close we're all getting- I'm having some anxiety creep in about the unknowns of what's about to happen in the near future.

My main anxieties are over something being wrong with the baby that we didn't catch, or her having cord around her neck that causes problems, or finally- ending up with a Csection scares me bc my husband will be gone pretty soon after birth and I really NEED to be 100% functional- which I pretty much was right after my epidural wore off after my vaginal delivery. So I'm intimidated by a Csection bc I know the recovery is different.

I try to stick my head in the sand when these things pop into my brain, but I'm rarely successful.

@PrincessBaby: it was easy didnt take me long you're welcome. it was good for me too cause i was curious and totally thought the parts were interchangable!!

As far as CS go... I cant speak about not having help... but for what its worth my first CS was a simple recovery. It actually seemed like a lot of the mamas in my birth group said the same thing, that their CS recovery was much quicker then expected. It seemed we were feeling better sooner then the vaginal delivery mamas. Also, a vaginal delivery doesnt guarantee less soreness! We have a mama in our group from my first who just had her second, and it was VBAC and shes making a call to the dr today because shes still so sore she cant walk around a the store for more then 30-45 minutes and is sitting on a boppy pillow.

LOL. sorry i dunno if thats helpful or worse. I guess, try to look at it in that your chances of a rough recovery are equal no matter how you deliver?

My biggest concern is her being in the NICU for more then a day or two. I think mostly the biggest challenge ahead is nursing. Because preemie babies tend to be lazy nursers and can be more jaundice. It would be tough to leave her in the nicu. We got lucky with my son and since we lived so far away, we got to board in the hospital for 3 weeks. This time I'm close so I'll have to commute and I'll have to have my son in temporary daycare if she were to be in the hospital more then the week my fiance will be home.

@SeptMomma12: I forget, are you having a RCS?

Oh guys. I think I'm coming down with the stomach bug. Again. I've missed so much work lately because of me having it, then LO having Roseola, then her catching the stomach bug. And now I feel like I have it again. Though, per Dr. Google, I also have the symptoms of preterm labor. I have no idea why I googled that. I have almost zero risk indicators for that. I should just call my OB, but I hate bugging them on Sundays. Oy. Spring, when will you bring relief?!

Ok. I got my vent out. Hope everyone else is feeling super healthy and good!! We are getting so close

@Mrs. Lovejoy: Oh no If your daughter just had a stomach bug, I would probably assume that's what it is. But I do know my OB told me once "We wouldnt go into this field if we didn't want to be bothered on nights or weekends." So if you're concerned, I wouldn't hesitate to call. Chances are the doc on call might be at the hospital anyway. I had to call on a Sunday when I was pregnant with my son (lost my mucus plug at 35 weeks and was afraid that was too early) and the doctor called back from the hospital number and wasn't at all bothered. Feel better!

@Mrs. Lovejoy: I am so sorry that so much sickness has plagued your household! I think if you have any inkling of a feeling that something is wrong, you should call the on-call doc. The worst thing that could happen is that it's nothing and you get reassurance of that. I had some weird stuff happen to me on Tues, which also happened to be the day of my bi-weekly checkup, and my doctor did this swab on my cervix called a Fetal Fibronectin test...Basically, it is a test that if you get a negative on, it means you have over a 99% chance of NOT going in to labor in the next 2 weeks. Mine was negative, and they chalked my issues up to baby just getting into an AWFUL position and my first and only occurrence of repeated BH contractions. So my panic attack was unnecessary but at least I know that I'm basically for sure not going into labor anytime in the near future. It's nice to have that reassurance, especially bc my husband just left. But it also keeps me from reading into every little thing, and I can go about my day in peace. So if you end up having to go in, even if it's just for a quick check tomorrow, maybe they can even do something like that test so that you can rest easy no matter how bad sickness is plaguing you and your household. I had really loose bowels today, which like never happens, and if I hadn't had that test, I'd be reading into it, but I know it's just a case of loose bowels, not my body getting ready:) I hope you and your family get better soon!

@SeptMomma12: That totally sucks:( I am sorry! I am sure it's very painful - my feet are so much more tender right now with all the extra fluid - I can't imagine how uncomfortable you are:(

@SeptMomma12: ow ow ow!!!! I've had toenail surgery on both my big toes and it hurt SO bad. Are you doing Epsom salt baths? I feel like they had me soak my feet when I had that done

@Mrs. Lovejoy: I think the test is more accurate if you get a negative. A positive doesn't mean that you will go into PTL, it just means they want to keep an eye on you. The negative is super accurate apparently. My doc said your cervix starts shedding something- some chemical I don't remember what- prepping for labor as early as 35 weeks. So they use that swab until 34 weeks to see if you are shedding or showing signs of whatever that chemical is. Super terrible explanation but that's what I got from it:) If you're still having bothersome BH on wed, maybe your doc won't mind doing one...Either way - I hope you feel lots better by then!

@PrincessBaby: Yes, my doctor described it basically as the "glue" that holds the cervix together. If the test is positive, it means that glue has started to break down. I had the FFN tests every two weeks with my son - was always so nerve-wracking waiting for that call.

@PrincessBaby: I'm renting a symphony. I pump in my office 90% of the time and had supply issues last time.

@PrincessBaby: that's the only kind of supply issues I had as well. DS is and always has been in the 95th abd I couldn't keep up at work so we used formula. I never used one but asked on here and everyone thought the symphony would be better. http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hospital-pump-symphony-vs-pisa