JANUARY 2009 BABIES

[nicaliw]

oh, I forgot to add.....the thing about lying flat on your back. OB's have different time lines but generally they say from about 4 months you should not lie flat on your back. The reason is the weight of the baby can put too much pressure on a major blood vessel and cause you to become faint or even pass out. Also, when the baby gets a bit bigger it can cause the baby to lie on their own cord which limits the bloood supply to the baby and can cause big problems. During labor we always tilt moms on their side by just propping a rolled up blanket or a pillow under their hip. Even during a c-section you have a hip roll under your hip.

Anyway.....enough about that....just thought I'd share that cause a lot of people aren't aware. I get women come in at full term in labor and their OB's have never told them this

[chelly180]

Hi ladies- wow, we filled that last page up quick!

nikki- good to hear from you, glad to hear you are doing well. I am jealous you are showing already; I am 14 weeks and I only look a little bloated. I look bigger at night after I've been eating all day. I keep thinking I feel flutters, but not sure...I've been known to be gassey Thank you for the advice about the dogs. Other people have told me to take the hat or blanket from the hospital before the baby comes home for the dogs to sniff & sleep with. We haven't bought anythink at all for the baby yet, I guess as we start filling out the nursery we can start teaching them what is off limits. They are small so I am not worried about them jumping to the crib or anything. I want them to feel as if the baby is part of their 'pack' if that makes sense...I don't want the baby to be totally off limits. Good advice about the sleeping positions too!

sameera- I'm sure you are feeling everything big time b/c its all doubled...think about it..you have 8 limbs flailing about in there!! (an octopus?!?) You are free to complain here all you want! I have been having round ligament pains too...they have been quite often but I expected that since its my 1st.

tinnots- Put me on the list for the pregnancy bed....I probably get up around 3-4 times a night and I always end up on my back. I have tried everything like putting pillows around me so I don't flip over, but nothing seems to work.

jenn- nothing beats leaving to go home early right? We have immunization drives coming up so I will be working 3 saturdays in a row.....

God Bless!
Michele

[DeniseM]

Sameera, you're not going to want to hear this, but with twins, every time you think you can't possibly get bigger, you do. Your ribs will spread and ache like a son of a gun, so will your hips. You will probably get big enough that it will be hard to get a good night sleep because whatever is on the bottom will be really sore. Your lungs will start to run out of room. I actually slept better once they were out, it was a huge relief. Pay attention to your body now, its doing tons of work. Lots of braxton hicks, sit down, and keep drinking the water. Twins have a sneaky way of coming early, and you don't want that to happen. Tons of breaks, whenever you can.

[sameera]

Denise - wow, you are right I didn't wanted to know all that LOL now I'm scared and gonna whine more in front of you guys!!

So be prepared hopefully you guys will totally understand lol

Chelly - I never thought about ( octopus ) but you are right - i do have 8 limbs inside of me! and yes you shall here me whine more and more LOL

as far as you showing - your belly is only gonna get bigger so before you know it you will pop out!! honestly, i'm very petite so with my first pregnancy - I didn't started showing till after 6months. Most of the ppl at work had no idea I was preggo.

aren't those ligament pain crappy - ugh i hate those things.

Tin - I think I may need that bed first Lol so sign me up!!!

Nikki - thanks for your advise about sleeping on the back - I try not to but i dont realize when in night I switch position.

I only do that when both sides get numb - but I guess I should quit sleeping on my back.

I would have never knew that sleeping on my back during pregnancy could harm the baby and myself that way - it's good to know.

Well, ladies have a good night!

Sameera

[TinNotts]

It's Friday!!!!! Hooray!:D

Sameera - I will stop complaining about my small ache under my rib! (which is actually not there this morning!) I can't believe you have it this bad so early - I wasn't expecting all that until I was in 3rd trimester! You whinge away!

Nikki - Yes, it's great to be out of 1st trimester. I still can't believe the maternity situation in US. Can you not take sick leave if you have to have bed rest?

Thanks for the info about lying on our backs. It's a bit scary though, as I will naturally turn over in my sleep even if I start on my side. Maybe I should tie a golf ball to my back - that should stop me lying on it!

It's funny to hear you talk about your weather - you're enjoying the temp as it's 'only 80 deg' - if we had 80 deg here, we would think we were having a heat wave! We do get 80 deg in the summer often, but it's considered hot! Is it humid too, or dry heat? Glad we're having winter babies - not sure if I could cope with summer and big bump.

We're not thinking much about names yet, although I'd quite like a flower name for a girl. But I don't think we'll tell anyone our prefered names - I don't want their reaction!

Chelly - How rotten that you're working 3 Saturdays. Can you take a day off in the week to compensate?/ Add the days to your maternity?!

I asked DH to get out the jigsaw and try to make a prototype of my maternity bed with a bid of mdf and foam! Don't know if it will ever happen!

Have a good weekend, all.

[Dri-Jim]

Jenn- Have I mentioned how jealous I am that you will be off a whole year?! Sounds like you will have a good arrangement when you go back anyway. We can deduct daycare on taxes but I don't know how much. I think its similar to yalls, with a child tax credit too. I am personally just not that fond of putting my 8 week old into a daycare where they may or may not get enough attention. There are several daycares in san antonio that have made the news for neglect or letting kids walk out...its crazy. It has turned me off to daycare. I wish our church offered daycare, but they only do a summer vacation bible school for a week. It also seems that all the mommy/baby groups meet during the work week....I am like, hello! Some of us are working moms!

Jim- good to hear from you! So far our little group is doing well...all the babies are healthy to date. Our OB thinks we are having a girl, but we will know more on 8/14. I am officially 14wks today, I still haven't felt the baby. I felt flutters one day, but DH said its probably gas! Keep us updated!

God Bless!
Michele

Hi Chelly, glad you're doing well. So you'll know for sure on 8-14? Our U/S is 8-13. Cool. Let's keep each other updated. She's 15 weeks today.
Yesterday, I felt her stomach and it felt like the baby was on one side. Then, she said she felt the same thing! Really cool.

[Dri-Jim]

sweet - seriously i am jealous too! lol I wanna be off for that long but like that's gonna happen!!!

I think it's very important you get enough time to bond with your baby or babies - it's insane when you have to be back to work by 6weeks...

Jim - Hey where have you been? glad to hear from you and very happy for Adriana!

do let us know whenever you find out if it's a boy or a girl!!!

we are doing great

Chelly - you are so lucky to have your mother take care of your baby! I wish I had that luxury but me and my family aren't that close..

Sameera

Hi Sameera,

How's things, girl? Just been really busy with work and trying to take care of Lovey, cleaning the house!!!, etc...

[chelly180]

Is anyone having sonogram withdrawls??? I am so used to and comforted by seeing my baby every 2 weeks....knowing I won't see her until 8-14 is making me nuts!!
This is going to sound strange, but I feel like I have a canteloupe in my belly...like its really 'heavy' inside there. I've never been pregnant before so I'm assuming its normal from the baby growing.
I was almost outed yesterday! The girls at work are starting to suspect I'm preggo....I'm waiting till out August staff meeting to tell my boss 1st, then I'll make the announcement.

Jim- awww....were you so thrilled to feel the baby move?? I bet that is huge for dads, since yall miss out on carrying the baby Are yall thinking boy or girl? My mom thinks girl....I haven't told her she is probably right until we have our next sono. Keep us updated!

TinNotts- Girlfriend, you would absolutely MELT if you were in San Antonio right now....we have been averaging 96 this week. You are right, we are lucky our bumps wont be huge until the weather cools down. Plus, winter clothes are so much cuter than summer clothes! I have my names picked out already, we haven't shared with anyone either. I traded the Friday for the Saturdays I have to work, but they kinda looked at me funny when I asked. At 1st they wanted me to use annual leave, but I was like, I only get paid for 40 hours no more no less, so I ain't about to be working OT for free!!!

Sameera- Once of my classmates from dental school was 9 months pregnant with twins when we had to take our board exams (If we don't pass we don't get a licence to practice and you have to wait 3 months to retake it) She was huge but she managed to pass, so you can put up with anything if you put your mind to it! And just think, in the end you will have to beautiful babies! What better reward!!!

Denise- So your 1st preganncy was twins, are you PG with twins again or a singleton?

God Bless!
Michele

[TinNotts]

Chelly - 96?!!! You're right, I would melt! I'm having sono withdrawal and I only saw it once! Would love to see it again. All I've got is 3 pictures! (and the memory!) How cheeky that they asked you to work for free?! Mind you, last year I worked 12 weeks in a row at an average of 60 hours each week inc. weekends and didn't get much to make up for it. I was wrecked. Employers can be a bit mean sometimes. Mind you, I can't complain generally - mine's pretty good on the whole, esp with maternity stuff.

[sameera]

How are you guys doing??

Chelly - you are right - I just need to put my mind into it and in the end everything will be worth it...

trust me I'm trying it aint easy!!

Jim - I'm doing great so are the babies - they have been moving around all the time now!!

How's your DW - hope she is doing better and isn't it cool to feel the baby move

Tin - you are hilarious but it's good we all need to laugh especially after going thru all this to have lil angel(s)!

As for me - I'm an aunt again my younger sis she gave birth to a lil healthy boy - he is 6lb 7oz and I plan to go visit her in Iowa..

Although driving is gonna suck but I will do it for her

Hope you'll have a great weekend.

Sameera

[chelly180]

sameera- congratulations on being an auntie again! how far is a drive to Iowa from you? Hopefully you won't be too uncomfortable! Make sure to take plenty of snacks...I know I can't go 3hours without eating!

TinNotts- wow, 60 hours a week? I am scheduled for 40, sometimes I work more usually less...but the weekend are the only time I get to spend with DH so I don't like to work. Yes, US employers can get very mean when it comes to wages and vacation...but atleast they can't fire you for being pregnant.

God Bless!
Michele

[sameera]

Chelly - the drive is about 8 - 9 hours but when you are going with your kid or kids then drive is much longer, because we do stop and take breaks!!

Yeah, I do plan to stop and take lots of snack/food or I would die

Tin- 60 hours is too long I dunno how you do it. But at least good thing is you get to spend time with your dh on the weekends and that's always fun.

[nicaliw]

tinnotts.....yep, the maternity leave situation sucks here. I'm originally from England, grew up in the Midlands and my sister is pregnant with her second baby now (due 2 days after me!). I'm so jeaous that she gets to be off with her new baby for one whole year! Thats incredible. The US just doesn't get it. As far as sick paid time off for bed rest.......in my job I acrue paid time off in very small amounts with every pay check. I have to save this for my maternity to leave if I want to get paid while I'm off. If I happen to go on bed rest and use it up before the baby arrives then I have no paid time off for maternity leave......great isn't it?

As for the weather.....I swear being pregnant affects my abiliyt to handle to heat. I had too much heat this weekend and feel like crap right now. I promised my little boy we could go to the pool, so I may muster up the energy to do that but I am exhausted. Anyone else feel this way?????

[TinNotts]

Morning ladies. Hope you had a good weekend. The highlight of my weekend was that me and DH went shopping and I bought a new bra that fits and has no underwiring - it's soooo comfortable - anyone making do with their old bra should go down to a bra shop and enjoy the bliss of comfy boobs. Aaah!
I also bought a pair of big trousers with shoulder straps like dungarees - they are apparently quite fashionable (?!) plus it means you don't have to have anything tight round your waist. Plus I bought a 'bump band' which is really good -it's a piece of elastic fabric, about 8" deep that goes around your tummy and you can wear it under another top and it covers the bump or put it over some trousers and nobody can see if your buttons are undone!


Nikki - which part of the Midlands are you from? I'm Nottingham girl (well, originally from London, but I moved up here for university and stayed). When did you leave? Was it love that did it?! Your company is awful - you have to earn your maternity leave in advance?? That's horrid. I feel very lucky. Can you at least take some unpaid time off? My year off isn't totally paid - I get 6 months paid then 13 weeks with just a state benefit (not much at all) then the final 13 weeks (if I want to) is unpaid, but they guarantee to let you come back to your job.

Sameera - congratulations on being an aunty. I'm an only child, so I'll never get to know what that's like. My DH has a nephew and niece but they're already 14 and 19, so it's not the same. Good luck for your big drive. Will you share the driving with DH? My big drive (10 hours) is next Friday, to tell DH's parents our news. We'll stop overnight, en route, but it's still a long drive. We've booked a week off work, so it'll be nice.

Sameera/Chelly - I don't normally work 60 hours - I'm only scheduled for 37 (excluding lunch!). That was just a really busy time. A couple of weeks I worked 72 hours - that was a killer. Now I'm back to the regular number of hours. But unfortunately, I don't always get to spend the weekend with DH as he often works weekends. So sometimes I am in London 3 days a week and he is working the weekend in another city, so we say hello on a Friday and that's it. (For a while we thought that was the reason I couldn't get pregnant! You at least gotta see each other...! )

Happy Monday everyone.

[sameera]

Good Morning ladies - hope you'll had a great weekend!!

Tin - Being an aunt is so much fun - I use to be ver close to all my nieces and nephews before I started dating my husband and then my sisters decided I was a BAD influence so disown me for good for a while - now all these lil kids have grown - so we aren't as close which sucks!!

I use to be their favorite aunt oh well hopefully they still know I love them and will always be there.

Yes, I do plan to go today and get me some new bras and undies and clothes, cause I obviously cannot wear my old stuff any more it hurts

I do plan to help drive too but my DH gets nervous when I'm driving LOL he thinks I'm the worst driver for whatever reason - he likes to criticize my driving and I hate it..

You be very careful and try to stop and take rest breaks as many as you want with your 10 hour drive.

As for me oh boy since yesterday I have been throwing up non-stop I dunno why no matter what I eat or drink - I'm puking yuck!!

I couldn't sleep all night last night cause I was so nauseated and making pee pee trips like crazy - ugh i am so tired.

I think my babies are just getting picky!! I'm wondering if I should call my OB or not..

Sameera