Pregnancy 2011 - March

My first ultrasound is on March 25th. I will be exactly 20 weeks! I am soo looking forward to it, as is hubby. We are not going to find out the sex though.

Either will we... We're rare breeds these days it seems!
We didn't find out the sex with our first baby either...and after 46 hours of labour it was the BEST surprise of my LIFE!

My older brother never has found out. I just couldn't do it! It will be very fun though.

I was thinking of not finding out with this one, but when i realized how much I did not want a girl I thought I should find out so that I didn't like start crying in the delivery room if it was a girl! :laugh: :laugh:

So my dad had twins (I have half-sisters that are twins) and I took Clomid....so really, there BETTER only be ONE in there! lol!

911Girl you look fabulous! I read that you had done Insanity. I started it (and it was intense) but it was so boring for me and I ended up not looking forward to working out (and that's not me). That is awesome that you finished it though. How much have you worked out since becoming pregnant. People always think I'm weird cause I do an hour of strength training/toning (I do Tracy Anderson Method) 6 days per week and an hour of cardio 4 days per week. I was doing cardio kickboxing/TKB 3 days per week and Spinning twice per week in addition to the strength training and cardio. I only cut that out cause I'm so tired! lol! I'm a fitness fanatic but lately it has been harder only because I'm so sleepy. What did you do to stay motivated to workout throughout your pregnancy?

After hearing how high my HCG levels were I decided to go ahead and tell my family. It was hard to hold it in as long as I did (all 6 days! lol!). The highest my levels ever got were 46 when I had miscarried back in October. I'm very optimistic and hopeful that this baby is here to stay. 12 more days and I get to see my little peanut (well at least a black blob on the screen hopefully with a little flutter)! I can't wait!

Feeling a little bit more queasy today. I did do my hour of strength training but have given up on the idea on doing an hour of cardio today. My husband and I are leaving to go out of town. He has some army convention thing to go to...and I will be spending my time shopping at the outlet mall! They have a Motherhood I plan on hitting up. Hopefully I'll find some good deals!

Hope you ladies have a wonderful day!

heathercrist1 - Thank you so much! It's appreciated. After gaining 54 pounds (starting at a healthy BMI) it was a lot of work to get it off (all but 3 pounds in 8 months). Luckily my baby boy naps faithfully at the same times twice a day so I can rely on those times for a workout and a shower. You're a busy girl with your workouts! I was doing 6 days a week prior to becoming pregnant. Due to a couple of weeks of 24/7 queasiness I scaled back...a lot! Now that the morning sickness seems to be over with I'm shooting for anywhere from 3-5 times a week (yes, if I don't feel too tired). We're going on a Mexican Riviera cruise during Spring break so I still want to rock the bikini with my little bump! Plus thinking of spending this summer at our cabin (in a bathing suit 7-9 months pregnant) has me wanting to keep my thighs, buns and arms toned. Good motivation! I'm of a healthy BMI and I know gaining 25-35 pounds is pretty adaquate. We'll see if my body cooperates! I'm already a step ahead from my last pregnancy - I didn't exercise and I didn't calorie count. That's the least I can do this time for me and my growing baby. Have a great weekend....and have fun at Motherhood!!

It's getting hard to keep up! I haven't read since last night and I just sat here for 30 minutes catching up

I stayed home from work today...I've been so sick this week (allergies, maybe?) and I just couldn't get up this morning. On top of being uncomfortable pregnancy wise I can't get comfortable bc I can't breathe out of my nose, or lay down for coughing. UGH. I'm just exhausted!

On a positive note, had my 34 week ultrasound today and Annabelle is weighing 5 lbs 12 oz. Of course I know that's an estimation. They say that should put her right on target to be an 8 pound-er if she arrives on time. It was nice being able to see her today, after a stressful, long week. It's amazing how detailed the sonograms are. We could see exact details of her lips, chin, hair line (yep, she has hair), and her toes. We could even tell that her second toe is longer than her big toe (just like her mommy, lol). So amazing.

We have lots to do around the house to get ready for the shower this weekend. It's at our house, as a way for people to see our new home too. Should have thought about being 35 weeks pregnant and tired having to clean everything before people come over..... oh well, live and learn.

Amanda, I hope you have an amazing time at your shower! They're so much fun

Sheri, I hope you find some relief! Sure sounds like Brooklynn is ready to come, but I hope your boys get to have their birthday parties, too! The zoo sounds like such a fun Easter tradition...I love the zoo too! I agree that we should keep a thread going for after we deliver... I was thinking the other day that MFP will be slightly boring without the pregnancy group, lol :laugh:

Welcome to all the new ladies! Enjoy every minute - I can't believe how fast it's gone! Only 5 more weeks for me!

There is so much to comment on, this pregnancy brain just can't remember everything!

Mel - glad you got there ok! I've been feeling like this a lot lately. I get REALLY hot and light headed, which isn't like me. Glad you didn't pass out on the plane :laugh:

So first day of my eating better and working out went poorly. uhg. I have lost self control and need to regain it. Breakfast and lunch went great.... but I got home from work and what did I choose... a bowl of breyers mint chocolate chip icecream. THEN I was going to make chicken stir-fry for dinner but hubby came home with a gift card he wanted to use so we went to Outback Steakhouse... even choosing as best I could... baked potato and side saled... it was still unhealthy the way its prepared. I didn't go on my walk either. I took my students to the computer lab to start a project and I was up walking around ALL DAY (well from 7:15 to 12:30) I thought I would be able to sit but they had so many questions and they got into the project so I never sat down... not once.... and was tired and didn't go walk.

I will do better today........ I will do better today... (if you say it enough times does it come true )

I just wanted to say that I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. To those of you having a shower this weekend, I hope they are wonderful.

I ended up choosing not to walk yesterday. I know deep down it would have messed up the ankle again.

Today I plan on finishing up the baby's blanket! Now I will need to find a new project. I know others of you were making blankets. Have you finished them? And what do they look like?

I am sure going to miss you all when my 6 remaining weeks are up.

Again, have a terrific weekend everyone!

Glad you didn't mess up your ankle, but I know you miss your exercise!

I so wish that I could sew. I think it would be such a great trade to have. A neighbor of mine has made Annabelle some great burp clothes, receiving blankets, bassinet sheets, diaper bag, etc and I would love to be able to do things like that.

I crocheted a blanket for Brooklynn, it is lavender, pale pink and purple. I love the way it turned out, it is washed and ready. MIL is really good at all of that stuff so she has made about 20 blankets (not even exagerating), a sweater and some booties. I think knitted clothing is so cute!

I feel the same about you ladies too, I cant wait to share pics of Brooklynn as well as the story of her birth once she arrives and MFP just will not be the same. I will definately make sure that there is a postpregnancy group intact so that we all have a place to continue on together. After nearly 9 months of being together here it almost feels like moving away from a group of friends. :sad:

AnneElise- I could not imagine life without ice cream, you know those slow churned or reduce sugar ones are pretty low in calories, usually under 150 per serving (1/4 cup) . I like to pair them up with a banana or some strawberries to get a fruit serving in. I guess I have never been good at this diet thing but in the few weeks that I was counting calories and loosing weight here not knowing I was pregnant yet I NEVER gave up my snacks. I LOVE sweets and just find alternatives so I can enjoy them (sugar free jello 10 cals, sugar free chocolate pudding 80 cals, oh yes cant forget 100 cal packs with their cookies and chips!)

So I just went grocery shopping and I was feeling very motivated by doing so poorly yesterday I got very healthy food for this week. On mondays I am also going to report how I did on fruits and veggies daily if thats okay with you guys in the exercise challenge because I really struggle on it. My goal this week is 3 fruits a day and 2 veggies a day... I will work up once I can do that.

Question for you ladies. Can you paint while pregnant once you are out of the first trimester? I got some paint samples for the nursery today and hubby is working all weekend so I am going to paint those on (the fumes wont be too strong with a little sample)... but I want to help hubby paint the nursery if I can. I have heard both ways. What do you ladies think?

I am going to miss all of you that are only a couple weeks away :ohwell: BUT I can't wait to get update on your LO's!

Is it sad that when I have my LO you all are going to be some of the first people I want to tell the details too... hah.

I painted with lots of ventalation plus my primer was low VO2 paint and had very little oders it was 2 bucks more per gallon but easier to breath.

Well, AF arrived this morning. :ohwell:
This is my 2nd cycle since the miscarriage.
I was using HOvT's this month, but stupid me didn't read directions properly and I missed my window. :grumble:

*sigh*

I am sorry AF came... Look up to next cycle, it could be your one!

Ah, just finished crocheting the baby's blanket after a very lazy day of just focusing on it. Feels good to have it finished. I really liked the pattern I used and wish I had another baby to crochet one for.

I wish I was crafty. I don't sew or knit or crochet. Maybe my two months off this summer being very pregnant I will learn something. Congrats on finishing, I am sure its beautiful!

I forgot to ask this. How many days before your due date did most of you start your maternity leave from work? I am due August 5th. We go back to school (teachers only) August 1st.... good timing right I had to convince my principal it wans't on purpose. I am trying to decide if I should not go in at all the start of the year or if I should take it from like the 3rd or 4th so I can go in and get my classroom set up for the long term sub. I was thinking it might be hard because I might not be feeling well but I was also thinking it might be a good distraction from waiting. Opinions?

I’m planning to work up until I give birth if possible. My job doesn’t offer any maternity leave other than the time I already have accrued, so I don’t want to have to use any time before unless it’s absolutely necessary. As it stands right now I can be home for 3 months and only miss one paycheck. But I’m a caseworker and my caseload will probably be disturbed office wide the month before I’m due and they’ll just find something else for me to do until I have the baby; so it’s not like I have to get anything ready for someone else.

Ron- We can take up to a year off unpaid and be given our jobs back. We only get paid sick leave time as well. I am not taking any sick leave time with this baby. I coached all year long so that I could make extra money and we put it into a savings account and are using that. I think I am taking 12 weeks. I totally agree I want to work till birth but I know someone has to replace me... the only reason I may work up until the 5th is I won't have any students just meetings and such. Thanks for sharing.

You can take a year unpaid? That's great, I can only be out 3 months and get my position back. They will hold a job for up to 6 months unpaid, but if I want to go back to my department I can only be out 3 months. You'd think a government would offer a little more. :ohwell:

Well, AF arrived this morning. :ohwell:
This is my 2nd cycle since the miscarriage.
I was using HOvT's this month, but stupid me didn't read directions properly and I missed my window. :grumble:

*sigh*

Yeah but now you know how to use them! Start using them about 18 days before you'd normally expect AF and if you want to be sure you're not going to miss it, use them every morning and every evening. I'm serious about using the really cheap ones from eBay, too. Oh, and if you use them in combination with charting your basal body temp, you'll be able to see when you're about to ovulate with the OPKs and then when you did ovulate based on your temp. It's pretty fun.