@WifiresGettingFit Welp, I think we're gonna settle on Bruce Alexander after all. I'm getting used to it, I think. I just can't think of boy names easily anyway.
@VeryKatie Thanks! Hmm, maybe? Aren't maternity suits expensive though? Ah well. I'll figure it out.
@puffbrat Lol. Awesome. I have been warned. And haha. I'm not sure I'm that brave yet.
@SheilAnneSmith Super cute nursery! I love all the cows. They are adorable. Also, congrats on being so close. 4 weeks now, right? Baby could come at any time. Hooray! Your hospital sounds very nice, much nicer than my local hospital. Sorry you guys were sick earlier. How were the classes? I still don't start mine for a month. Sorry you've been feeling so uncomfortable, and that it's still snowing.

So I have good news. I lowered my bloodpressure to normal, almost low, after it being stage 1 hypertension for a few years now. I've gained 20+ lbs, so I think it must be the lighter work schedule and less stress, not any weight loss victory. I'll still take it! I still am dealing with morningsickness, and now heartburn, and now Braxton Hicks contractions afternoons and evenings. Yeesh. Those things are annoying. But the midwife says it's all normal and baby has flipped head down, and is getting hiccups. I have pelvic pressure that comes and goes (probably not as much as Sheila). I'm at 26 weeks. So I have a long way to go. 2 more weeks until 3rd trimester. The cool thing is now baby is large enough that I can vaguely feel the lumps where his head and back are located if I prod around.

@WifiresGettingFit Thanks! It's manageable though. I'm uncomfortable, but I'm still feeling better than 1st trimester. I am a lot more positive and a lot less stressed.

@alioth Yes--officially 4 weeks to go as of today. I was able to schedule out the rest of my appointments until due date today, it's all coming so fast!

I had my first cervical check today, they said it's softening/thinning but I'm not dilated any yet. She's head down and measuring right on track. So we are just coasting along at this point and she seems quite content right where she is.

@SheilAnneSmith Nice! If you're already softening, then you're right on track along with baby, right? Are you doing any evening primrose oil or raspberry leaf tea? I've heard mixed reports about whether they actually work or not to ripen the cervix. Keep us posted! I'm so excited for you.

@SheilAnneSmith Sounds like a really fun weekend. Enjoy your date night!

@SheilAnneSmith Beautiful picture!

@SheilAnneSmith Lookin' good! And wow. Sounds like she's ready to go. So exciting! Keep us posted.

Welp, I had a good appointment yesterday and cleared my 1st blood glucose screening. I have to do another fasting glucose test next week. Alas, I have not been to the gym in forever now. Feet and hands are swelling a bit in the afternoons. I'm having trouble breathing too. But I'm excited to be in 3rd trimester now. I've started freezing meals to have later when needed. Kitchen is progressing again with more sheet rock and finishing. Josh and I are starting birth/newborn/postpartum/breastfeeding classes soon. Can't wait!

@SheilAnneSmith you look beautiful!! Glad to hear you are doing well.

@Alioth Happy 3rd trimester! I hope you enjoy the classes and find them helpful.

She arrived just after midnight on Mothers Day. I Got to 8 cm and then quit progressing and her heart rate got up and wouldn't come down. Ended up with a c-section after 20 hours. Born at 12:53am. 8lbs 6.5oz. 20.5". She was sunny side up and just couldn't make it through pelvis. Labored to 7 with only nitrous oxide which I loved but then it started stressing baby, got a epidural an hour after that as it was too intense for me the relax and breath as I needed to. Epidural only moved me to an 8 in 3 more hours. Not as planned but she's here and just had a great first feeding. We think she's pretty perfect--but we may be in trouble as I feel like she's going to be as stubborn as I am! Very content as well.

Congratulations @SheilAnneSmith!!! What a wonderful Mothers Day gift I'm sorry labor and delivery didn't go as planned, but glad you hear you are both doing well. You are awesome for getting so far using only nitrous oxide! Enjoy your new baby girl.

@VeryKatie Congratulations! Even if it means you've got to wiggle your plans around a little now, I hope that all falls into place.

Her name is Andrena Lois. We are totally in love! We've made it through 3 nights home now, last night was the toughest so far. We had a busy day with follow up appointments and such in town, so I did too much and was hurting and exhausted when she refused to sleep and wanted to nurse constantly 12pm-4am.

I want to put together a birth story/recap of emotions together to share, but will take some time to type up...I hope you all don't mind if I share. Mainly though I want to type it up and put it with my baby stuff so I remember all the details I know I'll soon forget.

@VeryKatie Congratulations! I literally just posted a fingers crossed for you in the TTC thread! haha Guess you didn't need it =P Of course we don't mind you sharing, that's what the group is for! I think playing it off as a misunderstanding with the daycare sounds like a good plan! (I feel like the basement idea may just open you up for too many questions if you have particularly nosy coworkers.)

@SheilAnneSmith That is such a beautiful name! I look forward to reading the birth story/recap! (Of course we don't mind if you share, it's what the group is for!) I hope today has been a little easier on you after such a rough day yesterday.

@VeryKatie So last night in our second prenatal class (neonatal care), we finally got to breastfeeding. There was a lot of good advice. Also, a lot of encouragement as the midwives feel that the first two weeks of breastfeeding/early motherhood are terribly hard on one. And they also talked about how they can help, as well as how to stay saneish through the whole process, how to test out your breast pump, different feeding holds, etc.

I also found out that a detailed table is sent home with the new parents. For the first weeks, we're supposed to record every feed, how long from each breast, every diaper's contents and what time of day they happen, baby's body temperature every couple hours, and breathing rate per minute, etc. Which I had no idea newborn's body temperatures fluctuate so much, or that their breathing patterns are so different from an adult. And they talked follow up visits, neonatal massage, cradle cap, cord care, bathing, what do with vernix, delayed cord clamping, placenta options all that good stuff.

Apparently if I leave my placenta behind (I don't want it anyway) it gets donated to a search and rescue dog training organization. They freeze it and bury it and train the dogs to search for the scent of human blood at different stages of decay. Kind of a weird thought, but donating to science sounds a lot better than eating it!

And we also practiced stretching techniques to relieve back pain and adjust baby's position with one of the on staff doulas. It kinda weirded my husband out to have a woman stare at us and give instructions while we stretched together. But I'm really happy a doula will be provided during labor as part of the package, even if I'm not a fan of yoga balls. Lol.

The first class, last week, was all about labor and delivery. I felt last night's class was way more useful. I'm glad Josh came too, as I'm going to have trouble remembering it all. A lot of other topics were brought up.

And, in other news, the kitchen is almost painted. The floor guy can't come until June 25. I hope baby stays put until after the floor and cabinets are in! We are going to have to finish from the ceiling down. The sink keeps falling apart and having to be duct taped together. So I'm sad to have to wait another month before we can put in the new sink, but whatever. I'm also worried about putting off setting up the nursery until after the floor is done. I don't want it all covered in sawdust after all, but it would be nice to unpack the crib or car seat or something.

This Saturday is my MIL's baby shower for us. I'm properly terrified of the whole ordeal. Haha. We had my family's baby shower already at the church with no power. I ended up doing a lot of the work for it myself as flash flooding (our area made the news for something!) made baby shower day extremely dramatic. A lot of people couldn't come as they were trying to pump water out of their homes and clean up. But the group that did come out was fantastic, and made it really fun.