MARCH/APRIL 2009 LADIES

[alreadyblessed]

Hey ladies,
I have noticed that the march 2009 board has slowed down significantly, and the April board hasn't had a post in quite some time. I figured maybe if we combined them, they may get going again. We are getting so close, it would be a shame after all the support we gave to eachother to lose contact now when the most wonderful moment for us is right around the corner.

[esperanza]

Hi Donna---I'm still here honey, thank you for posting this...you're right. I hope other ladies join in.

I went to my midwife's today. Everything is good! I passed the glucose test and I celebrated with a piece of cake, hehehe! my iron levels are fine too. The only thing that wasn't just "perfect" were my thyroid levels. I take thyroid hormones, so they have lowered my dose. Not a biggy, I was kind of expecting that.

I need to start counting my girl's movement everyday, she's a ballerina so that should be fine . I can't believe I'm going to start visiting my midwife every two weeks now It does make it more real. She also told me that starting my next visit they will start checking my baby's position. yay!

You had asked me where I was planning to give birth; well, I'm going to our local hospital. I don't dare to give birth at home, although I find it interesting and would possibly consider it in a second or third pregnancy.

How are you doing?

[alreadyblessed]

Hi esperanza!
It is so good to have you still here! I hope all the other ladies are doing ok. Congrats on passing your glucose test! How was that cake? Did you have problems with your thyroid before you got pregnant? Did they give you synthroid? I hope that it stays under control for you.
So, we are both at the "visit the doc every 2 week mark". It's so surreal isn't it? Is your midwife going to start your labor at home with you and then go to the hospital with you, or will she just meet you there when you go? I've never had a midwife, so I'm not sure how it works.
I went with DH to take a breast feeding class last week. It was great. If you plan on breast feeding, I highly recommend it. I didn't go for my first pregnancy, and after 3 days, I gave up. Having a lactation consultant to call every day if you need to makes such a big difference. With my second DD, I was able to nurse her for 13 months. I never would have made it past those initial hurdles without the consultant though. THey are great.
Have you picked out any names for your beautiful little ballerina? Your DH must be over the moon with excitement! My DH can hardly wait.
As for me, I have officially started "nesting". I have spent the past 3 days cleaning out closets, scrubbing bathrooms, and rearranging everything in my kitchen. I am moving my 2 girls into one bedroom and the furniture is coming Friday. Then I can start getting the nursery ready. . I delivered both my girls at 37 weeks to the day, so I anticipate being a little early again, so I'm going crazy trying to make sure everything is ready. The puppy is driving me nuts! He is soooooo cute (8 months old), and I love him to death, but it is going to be hard when the baby comes. Today he got into my bedroom and grabbed a box that I had a newborn sleeper in. He tore it to shreds like confetti . Then when I go to yell at him he gives me the puppy eyes, and I can't.
Well, at least we have eachother to keep in touch with. Stay well!!!!

[kerpupples]

I'm actually May, but our thread has dwindled down to almost nil as well. Mind if I join?

Donna, I've heard nothing but good about breastfeeding classes so I'm taking one for sure!

Working on getting the nursery set up and preparing for a baby shower in March. Lots of work! We're also working on names. Stuck between Samantha and Rhiannon at the moment.

I'm looking forward to 2 week appts! I start going stir crazy after a month, really wanting to know if things are still OK.

Cheers,
Amy

[CT_Michele]

Esperanza- I guess I will have to follow your story over here. I am still watching you and anxiously awaiting the arrival of your little girl!

Congrats to everyone else here, and hopefully you girls will have some more people join soon.

As for me, I am starting this journey all over again, that's right, we are going for baby number 2! So you can still find me over on the parents board under fall mommies, or you can find me in the jan/feb/march cycles buddies and march/april buddies in the ivf boards. It is all still preliminary, but we are scheduled for an expected ER/ET first week of march. Ella is 4 and a half months old now and doing great! I really hope I can bring her a sibling. You can see new pics of her at ellamichele.shutterfly.com.

ok, I wish you all a happy and healthy third trimester and a lot of luck on your upcoming deliveries...yay!

Michele

[jennywit]

Hi girls! Just me, Jennifer, wanting to stay in touch too!!!!! I'm glad everyone is doing well. I am also at the 2 week visits too. So exciting. But living in CT. It has been such a cold, snowy, icy winter that I want it all gone before the baby comes. Couple of questions for you ladies-Does anyone know about these sleeping pad things that alert you if the baby stops breathing while sleeping? Just wondering if they really work. How about breast pumps? I have heard medella is the best but it looks like they are 375-400 dollars. (chump change after all we have spent!!!!ha-ha) Any advice is welcome. Happy 3rd trimester ladies!!!!!!

[CT_Michele]

hey jenny, my CT friend! I have one of the monitors that comes with a sensor pad for under the mattress. It is my saving grace and one of the best purchases I made, it gives me peace of mind.

The one i got is called angelcare monitor. I put a link of the amazon listing at the bottom of this post that you can copy and paste.

As far as I can see, there are two on amazon made by bebesounds called angelcare. We picked the slightly more expensive one for one main reason, it has a screen that also tells us the temperature in the room. We had to install baseboard heat in the babys room and had no way of knowing the temperature, and would have had to buy a thermometer anyway, so it was worth the extra. Temperature is important to know because they say an ideal temp for baby is around 68 degrees F. Too hot is an increased risk for sids. I also am glad I picked this one too because the screen which tells the temp. has a little pendulum that swings when the baby moves. I can look over and see the pendulum and I know everything is ok.

The monitor will alarm if it does not detect any motion for 20 seconds, with a warning signal at 15 seconds. When we first put her in the crib, we had one or two false alarms in the first month b/c she was a deep deep sleeper. But we were able to increase the sensitivity. We had no more false alarms until she started moving in the crib. She would move so far to one side, and the sensor pad was in the middle, it was hard to detect her movement, so we had a bunch more false alarms, adjusted the sensitivity again and sense then have had no more false alarms.

So, the false alarms were annoying, but still worth it. I am glad we have the sensitivity figured out. But I love the monitor. I have to keep her bedroom door shut because I have cats, so if I did not have this monitor, I would want to check on her all night, which would require opening the door and possibly waking her.

Here is the amazon link to the one I bought:

http://www.amazon.com/BébéSounds-Angelc ... 041&sr=8-1

It is listed at $134 right now, but I got it on amazon for $105 with free shipping, so if you have time to wait, it may be worth watching for a while. I didn;t even use the monitor until 3 months after delivery since the baby was in my room until then. There is a less expensive model on amazon, with the sensor pad, but no temp or screen. Hence it does not have the pendulum, but I don;t know if maybe it has a light that blinks when the baby moves?? Maybe the amazon review will say.

Sorry so long, just wanted to be thorough, another ivf bought this monitor too and loves it just as much as me. I hope this helps you

[emfossum]

Hi everyone,

I really am thankful that this board was started. I was originally on the April board however it dwindled fairly quick. So I am glad that someone combined these boards. I am due April 27th with a baby boy and am loving the whole process.

Thanks to CT_Michele for the link and info about the baby monitor. I am going to check that out right away.

I need to go back and read everyone's profile to know what you are having and when.

I did have one question and that is if anyone is experiencing soreness on the pubic bone or lower back? I have been doing moderate exercise a couple of times a week. I really have been taking it easy this time around. In the evenings I begin to get real sore, and my lower back aches. I am planning to put a call into my doc today, but thought I would mention it here. Any insight or thoughts would be helpful.

Take care!!

[alreadyblessed]

HELLO HELLO HELLO!!!!!
It is sooo good to hear from all you ladies again! I'm glad everyone is doing well!

Kerpupples~ Of course you are welcome here!! I was on the March post forever even though I was due April 7th. I figured since I always deliver early that it made more sense. As far as the breastfeeding classes, I swear by them! Definitely take one if you plan on breastfeeding.

CT~ good luck with your second IVF. You are brave to have your two little miracles so close together. It's a lot of work, but sooo very worth it. I had two BFP in a row with IVF, and I hope to hear one from you soon!!!Good luck!

Jenny~ I know what you mean about the weather. I'm in NY and it's been snow and ice, snow and ice, I look like a whale on skates trying to get from my front door to the car. It is truly comical! I havn't heard about the alarm sleeper, but CT seems to have that covered for you. It sounds great, I just think I would be the one who needed CPR if there was a false alarm. As far as the breast pump goes, I had a top of the line Medella, and it did nothing for me as far as expressing milk. When I went to the breastfeeding class, they help you find a lactation consultant who was amazing. I never would have made it through the first few months without her help. Anyway, they offer a hospital type pump that I rented for $60 per month. If you put it on high I swear it could suck a kidney out through your boob! , but it did the job. Also, when you rent the pump, if anything went wrong with it, or I needed help with it, the consultant was there in a flash to help. Look into it.

emfossum~ Hi! I am having a boy too! and I am tickled Blue!! I have two beautiful DDs at home, so this will be my final pregnancy, and I am ecstatic to be having a son! As far as your sore back and pubic bone, I would definitely call the doc and get your cervix checked to make sure it is closed and behaving. Let us know how you are feeling. Good to have you on the board!

[esperanza]

Hello my ladies!

ALREADYBLESSED--thanks again for starting this thread, good to know there are other ladies on board How's the nesting going? You, my friend, as always make me laugh! I've been thinking about breast pumps too because I'm sure I'll need one due to school and work and I'm planning on breastfeeding for as long as I can. I'm going to take my class really soon, I wrote down the dates of the next ones my midwife office is offering and I just need to coordinate with dh so the two of us can go. Thank you for the advice.

From what my midwives have told me (it's a practice of 3 and they rotate, I've met them all at this point and I like them all--of course I have a "favorite" one, but I'll be happy to be assisted by any of the 3 when birth comes), I'll get started at home "on my own" and then I'll just go to the hospital and meet who ever is on call there. They said that if I am in the position to call their office first, then I should do so, BUT that if I just can't do it for whatever reason, to go straight to the hospital and then they'll give them a call. Thankfully we live less than 5 minutes away from the hospital, so that should be just fine.

Our ballerina is doing well, she was dancing this morning I think DH is getting nervous I think he's been kind of avoiding thinking too much about it until this past week, it's becoming more real with my belly showing much more and the date quickly approaching (and people making comments!). The other day I overheard him asking for advice to a young dad we met at a party...it was cute and relieving. All this time I thought he was on denial. Every time I tried to talk about certain things he'd respond "we have time for that, let's just enjoy our moment right now" what a luxury...we mommies don't have that privilege, with all the changes in our bodies there's no way we can't think about the fact that a baby is on her/his way. Ya know what I mean?


KERPUPPLES!!! welcome, welcome!!! My birthday is on May 10th, so your baby and I will have that in common. My due date is April 8th. I don't have a date for my shower yet, but I spoke with a friend of mine who's organizing it for us and we tentatively thought that Feb 28th would be good timing. I have to look at a couple of things first before making a final decision in the next few days...I'm looking forward to that, although it's out of my cultural traditions so it's kind of a funny feeling at the same time (I've never registered in my life, so I need to do that too!), but more excitement than anything else.


MICHELLE!!! you're such a loyal friend! thank you for joining our thread. It's good to hear from you. Best, best, best wishes with the new cycle, how exciting I had never heard of those monitors, so thank you for providing so much valuable information. I'll look into it, although I know she'll be sleeping with us for the first few months until she's bigger and we move to a new place. Although I'm with ALREADYBLESSED--I'd need CPR with a false alarm

I don't have time right now, but I'm going to check Ella's pictures later on today. Thanks for sharing my dear, it always gives me hope to see IVF babies

JENNY--good to see you here! yeah, 2 weeks visit! how's it going with your toddler? about the breast pump, I'm kind of hoping I can borrow one from somebody and just buy the replaceable parts (tubes, etc) OR if not, I'm just going to rent one.

I don't mean to rub it in your faces ladies, BUT I'm so happy to have moved to Southern New Mexico...ahhhh...what a relieve I feel every time I hear there's a snow or ice storm in Massachusetts. I feel for all you sister friends in the north east.

AMFOSSUM--welcome dear!!! My due date is April 8th, and I'm having a girl I like to call "my little ballerina." I tried joining the April thread at first but there was so much going on at the time that I don't think the ladies there had much space/time for me so I joined the March one. I'm glad we can continue giving each other support on this new one. About soreness, I actually took a long walk the other day with dh (I've tried to keep somehow active) and I had soreness just like you describe as I was on the last part of the walk, I got scared but I got home and went straight to bed to lay down, I took it easy the next day and the following one I had an appointment with my midwife, she said it was normal. It's the baby getting bigger and heavier, she did advise me to take shorter walks next time. I was taking the same length/route even less than a month ago and it was fine, but I guess my body is slowing down even more. Like ALREADYBLESSED said, check with your doc just in case.

Ok, this is a loooooong response, but I'm just happy to see action here.

LUV TO ALL...!!!!

[jennywit]

Hi everyone, I'm glad we are all back since our time is coming soon!!!!! Michele-thanks so much for the info on the monitor, I will watch it for a bit, but I surely think that's the one for me. Alreadyblessed-thanks for the info on the pump-I think I will ask my doc on the next appt about possibly renting one, except I will be delivering at a small hospital in my hometown, so I don't even know if they rent them out. Esperanza-thanks for the tips too. I will definately look into that. Emfossum-I really think the pain is just our growing aches & pains, my upper ribcage is usually uncomfortable all day unless I am standing. This little boy moves ALL the time, and I think it might be where he likes to rest his legs!! But of course ask the doc what he thinks. Hope to talk to everyone soon-I wish everyone restful nights with not too many potty breaks!! Ha-Ha!!!! Jennifer

[alreadyblessed]

Ladies, I have to vent so badly right now!! This afternoon I had to go to my DD school for a parent teacher conference. As I was getting off the highway, the person in front of me locked up their brakes, and I almost hit them. I could only think that they saw something, or they were a bad driver. We continued up the ramp and they did it again. At this point I left quite a distance between us. Unfortunately as luck would have it, we turned down the same street, and I found myself behind him yet again. He put on his left turn signal to go into the hospitals staff parking lot, and all I could think was thank God he's turning. I went to go around him on the right and he turned right into me and I went up the curb. Then he pulled into the lot. I couldn't believe what just happened and I followed into the lot to see "what " got out of the car. My intentions were to tell them that I was pregnant and ask why he tried to run me off the road. When we got into the lot he got out of his car, and stupidly, so did I . He had a passenger in the seat, but they never moved. He came over to me screaming like a lunatic that I was on my phone and a bunch of profanities he was screaming so loudly in my face that I chose to get back in my car. When I turned he grabbed my wrist, and I spit at him, he then proceeded to punch me in the face. My glasses went flying and he grabbed them and refused to give them to me. He had me by both wrists and had my glasses crunched in his fist. I was screaming like a lunatic, and finally some woman pulled in behind us and jumped out of her car to help and he let go. Then security showed up....some nurses and finally the cops. The video surveillance only showed me following him into the lot and the cops told me that it was not good that I followed him. Of course we were "just out of the video range" when the altercation happened. My husband is on the job, but for NYC and he showed up, and all hell broke lose. He wanted this guy arrested and they told him that in Nassau county, the guy could have me arrested for spitting at him and I would have to go to the pct. for up to 6 hours. I was spinning. We were there for 2 hours, and I was emotionally drained, and starting to have braxton hicks (which I never told DH). I just wanted to go home at that point. I left, and have been home brewing about not having done anything for the past9 hours. DH is working O.T. and calls me every hour to "rehash"everything. Sorry I took up so much thread with no happy stuff, but I needed to vent, and I just wanted to let you all know that when they say there are nutty people out there......THEY'RE RIGHT. My other message...... If you know any men that feel like beating up on pregnant women, sent them to Long Island NY apparently it's allowed over here.
Thanks for listening.............

[sonu911]

Oh my dear...I am so sorry for all tht happened.

I can't imagine how insenstive bunch of people we have around us. And the best part is tht they get away doing all tht.

Pl understand tht I am with you at this time and sometimes we come across such unfortunate situations. During those times I always think the worst that could have happened in that situation and did not happen...and then I start feeling ok.

Pl. take care of yourself, this is your precious time and you have waited for this since long. Insignificant, rude and insensitive person like that man cannot ruin one of the best times of your life. In fact, he doesn't deserve so much of place on our thread.

HUGS!!!! AND LOTS OF LOVE.

[jennywit]

Alreadyblessed-I'm so sorry that you were stressed like that! That guy was a jerk & wasn't even worth your attention. Please just try to stay calm and away from anything that could casue you or your pregnancy harm. Nobody is worth it. I see you're from New York and funny thing, both me & dh are huge Philadelphia Eagles fans and go to many games, esp when they play the Giants-Just a couple of weeks ago when they were playing eachother in the playoffs-dh and I would have usually gone-I said NO WAY!!!!!!! those New Yorkers get crazy and I didn't want to put myself in a bad situation. Since the Giants lost that game, I'm sure that was a good decision on my part! Ha-Ha!!! Please just try to relax and let the idiots be idiots for now........a couple of months from now you can be hell on wheels!!!!!

[alreadyblessed]

Hi again ladies!
First I want to say thank you so much for your posts. They really helped me to put things into perspective. It is so hard sometimes to look at the big picture when you are so focused in on other stuff.

Sonu~ Welcome back friend!! How are you? I have been thinking (and worrying ) about you. Where is your ticker? I know you are about 4 weeks ahead of me right? How are you doing? You are getting so close! I'm so excited to find out what you are having!!

Jenny~You made me laugh. I have to be honest. I do love NY, but it has its reputation for a reason. Good decision not to go to the Giants game! That would have been brutal!!! I have to tell you, my husband is a die hard Cowboys fan, and my uncle is a Giants fan. My uncle constantly picks on the Cowboys, so when the Eagles won that game my husband called and said "John, I need help doing this crossword puzzle. They're looking for a 6 letter word for "birds of prey" oh oh I got it EAGLES!

Thanks again ladies for your posts! Guess I'm just gonna have to let this one go.