Whoa, I really fell behind!  Going to try and catch up

Kelley-  good for you holding strong on your sex surprise. Couldn't do it. I like Jonathan, what's your girl name? My LO has gone crazy recently as well, wonder what that's about. Glad you are sleeping better though. Work won't replace the laptop?

Christina - the posterior cervix makes it harder to reach but shouldn't affect labor. Glad to hear Max is better

Yahyamommy - babycenter.com has great educational resources. Sorry to hear about the placenta previa, I'm sure the c section will be fine though

Helen - glad the iron is helping! I am keeping my baby in a cosleeper bassinet for the first 3-4 months because it has been shown to reduce SIDS. After that he is out! Sounds like you are doing great getting prepared!

Melissa - your 4d photo is gorgeous!  Great job on the swimming!

Destiny - sorry to hear about your DH being less than helpful, can you be more directive with him? Hopefully hung work out with the family too, I'm sure twill swoop back in to help at the last minute. Too bd your mom couldn't just get Olivia to bed on her own

Jalyn - I feel you on the fatigue, it's kicking in for me too. At least you're getting stuff done!  Btw I am also afraid when DH is gone, I triple check he locks and lock the bedroom door! Oh and you hold definitely have. Hospital BB ready by now. your symptoms could be pre labor, see if you can time the cramps or just go in if you're not sure. It's been days I guess so hopefully things are better!

Xosugar - welcome! Time flies for sure. Enjoy Hawaii

Myiceisonfire - yay on not needing a c section! Bring back some nutritionist tips, too! Also don't forget exercise is supposed to ward off pre-ecclampsia. Sorry to hear bout your hip, amazing how these little guys can hurt us!

Brunette wife - glad to hear things are well and you are getting to see DH. Sorry to hear about your dad, most cases do well however 

Sas - so sorry to hear bout hubby right after you moved! Will be thinking good thoughts for him!

Dragon - glad to hear your glucose tests were fine, congrats on being nice and tall, I'm built more like a midget than amazon

Emily - you are  awesome getting prepared. I hope your LO turns although it's a bit late for that. I heard version is painful and rarely successful....
I tried to do the survey but it says it's closed?

Mrsjax - glad to hear you are doing well and staying active! Your appetite will likely suffer till the baby drops, just focus on small frequent meals.  I believe there is a separate fit mama group we move to. 

Mrslouisiana - welcome! Pregnancy can definitely be challenging and its getting a little hard these last few weeks but I'm not quite prepared so I'll let him bake! Hang in there!

AFM
I had a great time in San Diego, my mom's retirement was awesome, we got a lot of stuff at our coed shower and drove back with an SUV full of stuff! Including hundreds of diapers and months of clothes! Now we just need a car seat and some odds and ends like changing pads. On the bad side I definitely ate some naughty things and developed hip pain and leg swelling during the car ride, even though hubby drove the whole way so I could relax! He has been super sweet to me and spoiling me, which is great cause I am starting to get tired, emotional, and demanding! :laugh:

LO is doing well, he's actually been hurting me today he's been so squirmy and wild. I got a good videotape of the alien in my tummy though. My pelvis has been really achy and it seems like he dropped, maybe they will check me at my OB appointment tomorrow. Seems like I gained 2lbs over the weekend (although I did work out daily, which I'm proud of), been trying to drink water and see if it disappears. According to my pregnancy newsletter I should be about done gaining weight, but I'm not sure cause my appetitie is up with the baby being down, my feet are more swollen today so I'm retaining, and it's getting harder to exercise!
Behind on packing for the move on Monday but I'm off tomorrow and my mom is coming up this weekend to pack while I'm at work so hopefully all will be well.

Melissa
36wk 5d,+25ish

eejieweejie - is your survey ready? I couldn't get on it, said it was closed this morning.

Okay ladies... just had my Dr. Appt (thank God my Dr. was back from vacation) 80-90% effaced, soft and low and almost 2cm... 8 more days and counting. Really hoping I don't go overdo... definately need some time off work here soon!

Christina
39 weeks tomorrow

Hi Ladies,

Found temporary fix to the laptop keyboard trouble...wireless keyboard.

Emily - Yeah Baby has turned...awesome...now you just have to get the last min things done and then he can push his way into the world...:)

Melissa - no work won't replace the keyboard...it was a personal laptop I used for work purposes...since I work part-time and it's a small company the assistance given for things are really limited. Like I get maternity leave but no pay...but that's fine because I decide my schedule and can work from home. Glad you had a blast in San Diego, and got tons for stuff...
Sorry to hear abou the swelling and discomfort but only 3 more weeks...so hang in there. Great that hubby is spoiling you...soak it up. Good luck on the move on Monday...

Bru - sorry to hear about your dad...praying he does better this time and that you are able to go visit your hubby this weekend.

Misslou - welcome...I am at the stage where I want the baby out but also ok with it in because I have some stuff I still need to get done..like packing my hospital bag...I will do that this weekend.

Helen - hows your back? Only one day until you get the week off...do you have any plans for the week off?

Destiny - really hope you work things out with Olivia...I hope you are able to get a baby free weekend...but I know that might be tough if she's not sleeping well lately.

Christina - yeah on your progress...hope u take a day off of work just to have some you time before #2 arrives.

XOsugar - have a great time in Hawaii...I am so jealous...but I am sure you will have a blast...enjoy. Glad baby is doing well...I didn't know you lived in MD...what part?

AFM -
I had my doctor's appt this afternoon and doc said I am still only like 1cm but my cervix is definitely soft...So not much news...the the babies HR was still good but sounded far away for some reason and the nurse said my blood pressure was a little high for me but that it's nothing to worry since it's been warmer lately...so I am going to watch my salt intake and definitely get in tons of water...Good news is the weight gain has stopped...thank God...So now we are just playing the waiting game.
I think next week I will get a pedicure and catch a movie before the baby actually gets here...so we will see. Lately all I have wanted to do is sleep when the nanny gets here or go run errands so I don't have to do them witha toddler in tow. Other wise things have been ok. I took little one to youth garden in DC today and it was great except towards the end I fell on my butt with my son in my arms...luckily I landed on my butt...and my doc appt was after that so everything seems fine but my butt and my pelvic area defintely feel sore from the pressure from the baby and the fall.

In other news...has anyone past 38 weeks been told not to drive too much? Or Melissa (cutemd) is there something that says a woman past a certain point in pregancy shouldn't be driving?

alright ladies...hope everyone else is well...will check back in later...

Kelley
39 weeks.

Emily & Kelley - My backs fine thats - I had forgotten about it! (I have baby brain!) lol. I Must have just sat or slept funny but its sorted itself out. No not much planned for week off. I want to sort the kitchen and utility room - clean, tidy etc and maybe do a little baking. Im going to visit some friends from Uni tomorrow so it will be a nice girlie catch up - its just a day trip (takes about 2 hours to get there) but Im only driving half way and meeting friend who will drive the rest. I have also promised to pick my neice up from school (she is only 3) and take her to ride her pony (which lives at my mums).

Emily - Glad baby is head down. I was told the same at my last appointment but she will keep checking each time I see her as I think plenty of time to move yet (for me anyways).

Stell - Sounds like baby getting ready. Do you feel well?

Sugarbabie - Glad your little girl doing well and sound very strong. Ive never had really stong kicks - more like a rolling feeling or a wave across my belly - I think It could be a lazy boy! lol (I really have no idea mind). Sounds like your weigh gain is balancing out. I was up about 20lb at 20 weeks but now Im 31 weeks Im up 25lb so it seems to be balancing out now for me too.

Kelley - glad you have a temp solution for your laptop. I think we need a new one but as its still working - its not something we really need at the mo. All sounds good with the baby - does it feel different to you son? Hope you are still feeling ok after your fall - sounds like all is ok and was lucky you had an appointment afterwards for a double check.

Jalyner - Glad baby hanging on in until hubby is home - then yes defo try everything. I havent suffersed the Varicose veins (yet) but was reading about them yest (never heard of them in that area until I read about them yest), my book said they are very common - along with piles (which I think I have a mild case of). Everything I have read says they should go within a few weeks of giving birth as you wont be pumping as much blood around then.

Re hospital bag - We have to take nappies and cotton wool, but if your hospital provides them I dont think you need to.
For you (i was thinking as extras): hair bobble and clips, lipbalm, cartons of drinks with straws or just straws to make drinking easier from cup, book, magazine (for you and hubby), your own pillow (if its a comfy one you like), camera, phone charger, money/change for buying drinks/parking. errrm not sure what else....your medical notes?

AFM: We went to the first antinatal class last night which was on stages of birth. It was ok but I didnt really learn anything I didnt know. I will continue to go each week (4 weeks in total) as Im scared I will miss something. Week 5 is the hospital tour. I also will have an active birth class and breast feeding class (which are morning classes).

What will your baby's sleep in at first? as in blanets or clothes? I have bought a swaddle blanket (a summer one), and will get a few normal blankets , and a sleeping bag but just wasnt sure what was best.

Off to make a cup of tea and have a jammy dodger as Im getting hungry (already had big bowl of cornflakes with pineapple, glass fresh orange juice and a banana and its only 10.30am).

Helen
31 + 3
Up 25lb

Another quick update, my dad is home from the hospital

Glad to see everyone is doing well. I'm just poping in to share my birth story. I must say it was more intense then I could have ever remotely imagined but the reward at the end is so worth it....baby number 2 just might be a little further away then my pre-delivery planning had it haha.

Evelyn Mya's birth story.

On June 5th my hubby was sick with flu like symptoms all day so we were having a lazy day at home. I noticed on 3 separate occasions that my pyjama pants(since I didn't get dressed all day) were wet. Not huge gushes or anything just a spot about the size of a mandarin orange. So I decided I best go get checked for a membrane leak. Hubby tried to get ready to come down to the hospital with me but just got more and more pale so I convinced him to stay at home and I would call him if it was actually something. (We only live 3 minutes from the hospital so he could be there quickly if needed.) I went in and they did a nitrite swab which came back negative. So they did a fetal tracing for about 20 minutes and sent me home.

June 6th I woke up with a killer back ache, which wasn't uncommon the last few days but regularly it goes away quickly with my heat pad or getting up and moving and it just wasn't. So I began experiencing the cramping across my back wrapping into the lower part of my abdomen. So I went for a nap at 1130. My Dr. personally called me at 1240 to just check up on me. He asked if I was still leaking fluid, I said yes so he decided he wanted to check me himself and asked me to come down to the clinic.

At the clinic my Dr did a speculum swab which came back positive on part of my cervix so he decided to set up an induction for that night. His plan was for me to come in at 2130 for Cervidil and then see if that worked followed by Pitocin in the morning. He stripped my membranes(at 1330) and sent me on my way.

By 1400 I was contracting every 3-5 minutes with no contraction less then 45 seconds. So I was labouring at home until 1830. My contractions were 3 minutes apart and lasting up to 2 minutes so we decided we should probably go into the hospital. I got to the hospital at 2cm's and the nurse said she could stretch me to 3 if she tried but the nurse was concerned that my contractions were so close together so they just admitted me.

I had a shot of Fentanyl(Narcotic) and Gravol(an anti nausea.) which totally knocked me on my butt. I was ridiculously dizzy so had to labour in bed for a while. Once it wore off I was able to get up into the shower, bounce on the ball, walk, sway etc.

2200- They checked me again and I was only at 4cm's. Got in the shower again. Contractions were basically on top of each other with maybe 20 seconds in between. Shift change happened at 2330. I ended up with a nurse who was not too interested in being in the labour room at all. I became extremely nauseated so my husband went and asked for some more Gravol/ Fentanyl. The nurse rolled her eyes at him and said she would go see what she could do. She finally came back 45 minutes later and said she needed to check me again before giving me anything. It was after 0100 before she finally got ready to check me and I started projectile vomiting. Unfortunately poor hubby ended up getting most of it on him.

0130- She checked me and I was still only at 4 cm's. That absolutely devastated me. My membranes then ruptured and unfortunately there was meconium in my amniotic fluid. They tried the laughing gas which did nothing. And decided start the Pitocin drip to get the cervix dilating. I was already getting no break between contractions and the Pitocin just made it 10 times worse. Evie was stuck on my tailbone and just not coming down so the back labour was insane.

They started a Fentanyl drip in an attempt to get me to be able to focus on anything. At this point the narcotics were doing absolutely nothing. I was totally out of it and unaware of my surroundings I have never imagined the pain to be that intense. I think if it was just the contractions I would have been OK but I wasn't even getting 3 seconds between contractions. So I had 2 hours of continuous contractions. The Doctor came in and checked me and I was now at 8cm.

0350- It was sooooo hard not to bear down but that's what my body wanted to do. I worked the best I could to pant through the contractions. 30 minutes later I was 10cm.
I pushed for less then 30 minutes and at 0447 Baby Evie was born. She came out with her hand up by her face weighing 6lbs 13 oz. I ended up with a 3rd degree tear which resulted in too many stitches to count according to the doctor. I then hemorrhaged and my blood pressure dropped down to 80/60 but after receiving a bunch of IV fluids things stabilized.

Breast feeding is still very painful and a bit of a challenge but getting better. We are all happy and healthy at home now. We fall further in love with little Evie everyday!

Amanda

...... Errr nevermind, whatever it was stopped after a few hours. I feel pretty silly.

Amanda- Congrats! Evelyn is a cutie. Glad you're both home and doing better. I had a couple shots of the Fentanyl when I was in labor with Olivia and I didn't feel much relief but it definitely messed with her. She turned and gave me terrible back labor!

Melissa- Glad you had a great weekend with your family, even though I'm late on that! LOL! Hope the move is going good and stress free!

Emily- Hubby and I saw Snow White and the Huntsman. It was pretty good. Action-y enough for him, and girly enough for me I'd love to hear how you make your own Tucks wipes. So glad the baby turned for you!

Kelley- So sorry about the fall! How are you feeling now? Any more progress with baby? Hope you got your pedicure and movie in this weekend!

AFM- Sorry I can't keep up better. Like some of you ladies I'm just exhausted lately. We got new carpet in the baby's room today. Hubby was off today and tomorrow so hopefully we can put together the armoire we ordered a few weeks ago, and get the room somewhat ready for her. I've been going crazy organizing Olivia's room, and doing random things around the house (like making homemade dishwasher detergent). And my mom stopped by the other day and informed me I was nesting. LOL! That thought hadn't even crossed my mind. I think I've decided to pass on the baby free weekend. Just not enough time. Hubby goes back to work on Wed and will be working every day until the following Wed. Then he'll have his 6 days off, but those will be his last days off until *hopefully* baby shows up and so we'll have a lot to do. And we really need to get the house cleaned before my Grandma shows up, otherwise that 82 yr old woman will bend over backwards to make it clean! LOL! Is anyone else having issues with their stomach muscles? Lately I've been feeling like baby is tearing those muscles apart from the inside. Owie! Luckily its not all the time, but its pretty frequent. I don't remember that issue with Olivia.

Anyway, hope everyone has a great week!

Destiny
34w5d +26lbs

Just a quick update:

Had my ob appt yesterday... my weight has shot up about 10lbs every time between the last 3 appts from retaining water. Now my bp is creeping up. It looks like the beginning of going into pre-eclampsia just like the last pregnancy. At least this time it's starting off farther in the pregnancy, so I might even make it to the end, but you just never know. "Pre-e is so unpredictable. They don't even know what causes it, so it can't be prevented. If you get it the 1st pregnancy chances are high that you'll get it in the 2nd. There's nothing that you can do or cannot do to cause or not cause pre-e. It's just one of those weird things that happens and has something to do with hormones and the placenta. It it not your fault." That's what the dr said to me.... Yesterday someone scolded me on mfp pretty much said it's all my fault because I didn't try my best not to get it. I was in tears as my husband just held me and told me that I know it's not my fault, it's nobody's fault. I felt bad enough already, I didn't need that ontop of it. Anyway, at this point it's just a waiting game. The dr said my bp could shoot up into a high range that would put me on bedrest in just a few hours, or in a few weeks. We wont know until it happens. So right now my job is to live my life like I would otherwise and just check my bp every few days to see where it's at. Once it hits 140/90 that's when i go on bedrest until the end of my pregnancy (whether it be 40wks or the an early emergency c-section.) Dr said as long as I make it to 34weeks I will be fine and so will baby. That's 2 weeks later than I had my son, so I'm happy with that.

Edit: Also, I promised my 2yr old we'd take him to the zoo this summer. It'd be his first time. So I guess we need to do that this weekend now incase something happens fast =P

Christina – Any sign of baby yet?!

Sugarbabie – Glad baby girl is doing well! Hope you’re having a great time in Hawaii!

Kelley – Sounds like you had a great Father’s day weekend! I love that hubby ended up cooking you brunch!! Glad you got to catch up with your friend! I’m with you, I need to get my car in for an oil change before baby arrives, I’m over 1000 miles overdue! Did you have an appointment today? Any progress?

Jayln – Hope you’re enjoying having hubby home! Anymore progress on baby? Sorry to hear about your varicose veins, that doesn’t sound like fun. You shouldn’t need any baby supplies other than a going home outfit, the hospital should provide everything! Also, once baby is here, if you have any diaper’s etc., left in the hospital make sure you take them with you! Sounds like you have the necessities packed, (as Helen suggested, make sure you take lip balm/chapstick, your lips will probably get pretty dry!) and anything else would just be whatever else you want to keep you occupied during labor and your hospital stay!

Helen – Glad to hear your back is feeling better. How was your visit with your uni friends? Hope you’re having a good week off! As far as what baby will sleep in, with DS we lived in Florida, and we just swaddled him in a lightweight blanket, but he hated being swaddled so that only lasted a couple of weeks, then he just slept in a sleepsuit (I think that’s what it’s called back there?! I forget sometimes!) It’s 90F here at the moment (about 32C) so it will probably be the same for new little one, we’ll have to see!

Bru – Glad to hear that your dad is ok and that you had a great time in Chicago with hubby! It seems like everyone is reading the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy at the moment, I may have to see what the big deal is about!

Amanda – Congratulations! Sounds like you had an eventful labor! I’m happy to hear that everything turned out well and I know it was all worth it when you finally got to hold Evie in your arms. I hope that you are healing well and that the breastfeeding is getting easier.

Dragon – Sounds like you were having some Braxton Hicks. Don’t feel silly! It’s difficult to know what’s going on sometimes when you’ve never been through it before!

Destiny – I heard that movie is good! I'll have to wait for it to come out on DVD! How are you feeling? Managed to get any energy back? My tummy has been a little tender around my belly button area and from what I’ve read it’s from the abdominal muscles separating which you usually feel more with your second!

Myice – Hope all is ok and that you are taking it easy. Sorry to hear about the comments from the insensitive person, try not to pay attention to them! I hope you're able to get your blood pressure under control and don't get pre-e again.

Melissa – Hope the move went well!

AFM - Had a great weekend with my sweet little family! Saturday was OH’s birthday and we went to visit his parents for a little while, then took DS to Stone Mountain to watch the laser show. OH and DS rode the train around the mountain which DS loved! Sunday we had a relaxed morning, took DS for a haircut (which is so cute!) then visited with my dad for a while before going to eat Mexican food! I had an appointment with the midwife today and baby’s heartbeat was 150. Baby is still high up so I’m not effaced much, but I was dilated 1-2cm, so it’s a start! I've started to get some swelling in my feet by the end of the day, but it seems to go down by morning, plus I haven't been getting much sleep at all, around 4 hours each night for the past couple of nights. Really hope I get a good nights sleep tonight, I'm pooped!

Hope you ladies are all having a great week!

Emily

I am happy to hear that everyone is doing great. Also congratulations to all the new momies. I had a concern and wanted to know if anyone could hep. This is my 3rd preg. Both of my other babies are December babies. I my hands and feet are really swollen. Also I am 28 weeks and yesterday night was horrible. I had horrible back pain when I went to bed. My lower back felt as if it was open apart. And today I have been experiencing alot of bh contractions. I say this because I fell my uterus tightening but they are really not painful. But I do feel a lot of pressure when I walk. And it is not easy having to deal with a 2 and a 3 year old full of energy. I know it is early but I am not sure why I am feeling all these things with this pregnancy. with my other two I never felt BH contractions. The only thing that happened to me with my second was, I mopped the floor of my home the day before my delivery and started having really bad lower back pain. Actually with both of my deliveries it has been more like back labor. Thank you for your help those that can. I really appreciate it.

TMI warning: I noticed on Monday when I got out of the shower that I have varicose veins on my labia. It looked like bug bites in the mirror and I can't SEE past my belly, so I had to get the little mirror out. The doctor said they'll go away after birth, but that I'll get them again in other pregnancies, probably sooner and more painful. Great. :grumble: Anyone else have experience with these? So far I've had some minor pain with them, but nothing too serious. They just look nasty. If you've had them before, how long does it take for them to go away?

Hey Jalyner, I was just going through the trimesters when I saw this. My name is Prissy and I am 15 weeks today with my 2nd pregnancy. With my first I noticed varicose veins about 6 weeks before my due date and honestly their uncomfortable but after you give birth is not that bad. I had a vaginal delivery and basically it gets swore down there but at the hospital they gave me a spray solution to put on the veins every time after cleansing and that helped relive the pressure and pain. But what your doctor said about next pregnancy developing sooner is true. My doctor didn't tell me this when I first got them but I just noticed one on Sunday hopefully it won't make this pregnancy so uncomfortable.

Best of Luck to all the 3 trimester Mommies!!!:flowerforyou:

Hi all, sorry I have been crap at checking in. I havent been logging food but been pretty good and trying to exercise most days - usually walking but done a lot of spring cleaning this week too.

I have had a nic week of work except the weather has been rubbish. As I type the rain is bouncing off the patio.

I have been to 2 anti natal classes now and both been quite good. Next week is on pain relief and possible birth complications. The week after we have a hospial tour and I have a breast feeding class.

I best go and get ready as I need to pop to Tesco's and picking my neice up from play school at 12 noon.

Catch up soon.

Helen
32 + 3
Up 26 lb

sorry I'm so behind!

Emily - yay on the baby turning! Glad to hear you had an awesome time with the fam and the baby is doing well

Stellcorb - crossing my fingers for a delivery!

Xosugarbabies - hope you're enjoying Hawaii

Kelley - glad everything was ok with that fall! Haven't heard anything about limiting driving, although I could see how you could get in trouble straying too far from a hospital or being forced to drive with contractions...Def get that pedicure, I need one too. Hope the baby pops out on his or her own soon!

Jalyn - I think you should throw snacks in your bag too. There are online list you can check...

Helen - hadn't thought about what he'd sleep in, I guess I'll see what he likes?
What's a jammy dodger? Great job on staying active and the classes!

Brunette wife - so glad to her your dad is fine. I hope you are enjoying Chicago. 
You probably did have some form of contraction before.  It's a good policy to time any repetitive pain in your torso just in case. Yay on the healthy little girl and definitely drink that water!

Amanda - crazy story but beautiful results! Congratulations! Hope you are breastfeeding ok and your tears are healing without too much pain

Destiny - sounds like nesting is going well. Sorry to hear about your abs. Mine hurt earlier but I think they gave up now, lol

Myiceisonfire - sorry to her bout the pre-e. what did the person who scolded you think you could do to prevent it? You were high risk for a repeat. Hopefully your bp stays in check!

Jcgutierrez - with the swelling you need to go in and get your bp checked and with the pains and BH you need to get preterm labor, so go to L&D!

Sarah - so sorry to hear about hubby's job woes, the timing is awful.  Glad to hear the baby is well.  Listen, commit to walking just 15-20 minutes a day, I promise you will feel so much better! Listen to music and make it your stress reliever. I have to drag myself every time but I never regret it!