SheilAnneSmith Member

Hi--I just wanted to pop back in to say hello and give an update on things. It's hard to believe we're rapidly closing in on Andrena's first birth in April. She's doing fantastic and is the biggest ham. I'm coming around but had a really rough time. Mid-February I finally addressed the PPD that I had been in denial about…

Just a quick hello! Hope everyone is having a good September. Time is flying by. I'm finally feeling like I'm getting settled into a good routine and we are still mixed feeding. Andrena was 15 lbs 1 oz at her 4 month appointment and handled her shots well. We are just about ready to start moving her to her crib and out of…

Thank you @puffbrat, yes, it sounds very, very familiar. We'll be at 3 months this weekend--since I last posted I have tried adding lactation cookies, blessed thistle, brewers yeast, more oatmeal, etc and I'm still only getting about 5-6 oz out of 3 pumping sessions. Going back to work has probably saved me from quitting…

@Alioth I'm insanely jealous of 8-12 min a side for feedings! We are still 30+ minutes a side and then she'll still act hungry. We also had a clogged tear duct that just finally is starting to clear up, she occasionally gets a little goopy in the corner of her eye but it's not every day and always crusty like it was for…

Congrats @Alioth! Can't wait to here more!

It's been a couple of weeks since I popped in and I thought I'd touch base. The doctor made us start supplementing with formula shortly after I last posted. She's been getting 1-2oz after nursing a few times a day (6-8oz total). It's worked, as she's been gaining about 1 lb/week since then. She jumped from 8lbs 3oz to 9lbs…

Today has been ridiculous. I hope it's just a growth spurt and not a reflection of me not meeting her needs, but she nursed 9:30am-5:30pm pretty well constantly. The most break I could get was 15 minutes if she dozed off or if I handed her to Marlin to hold while I used to bathroom---and she would scream the whole time.…

I am maybe feeling a bit more human, for today at least. We are headed back for another weight check tomorrow. At our appointment on Friday she'd gained 2 oz in 3 days but they still wanted to do a blood draw to make sure nothing else was going on and sent me to a lactation consultant on Sunday. The blood draw came back…

Here is a rambling, not well edited birth story. The first two weeks have been hard, very hard. I've been to the ER twice, for severe constipation (thanks Percocet!) and then my blood pressure skyrocketing to 175/110 (Ibuprofen was the culprit). We've had a couple extra weight checks for Andrena as she's not yet…

@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,…

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…

@WifiresGettingFit I'm feeling pretty good yet, no clue what to expect but don't feel like anything is super close or different yet. Down to single digits to go tomorrow. Just plugging away at work, put in 10.5 hours today as I was having a more productive day that usual, so I rolled with it! It's hard to leave a list…

Had our 38 week appointment today. 80% effaced and 3 cm dilated--her head was low, but not engaged and the doctor could push her back up yet. At this point he pretty well thinks we're still likely to make it fairly close to the 18th, but time will tell. I am not having any contractions or indications of things moving…

3 weeks to go!

@Alioth Yes, it sounds like pretty well as expected with it starting to soften. I have appointments on Friday's from here on out, so I should get a good idea of progress as we wind down! I haven't tried any evening primrose oil or raspberry leaf tea. I have some of the raspberry leaf tea at home, just keep forgetting about…

@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…

I'm using an OBGYN office that has 3 doctors--I don't really like the concept, I liked the first doctor I saw. You have to see them all at least once so you've met them. I've had 1 appointment with the female doctor, 2 with the other male doctor and the rest with the doctor I prefer. My husband hasn't been to many…

We aren't doing anything real matchy or coordinated but here is the state of the nursery so far. I need to get my recliner delivered and it'll be about all together. I've added some various fabric storage totes on the shelves since the photos--they are pink and we're 80% off, so I'll take whatever color is on sale!

Just thought it might be time to check-in again. Time is flying and we only have 6.5 weeks to go. I feel no where near ready right now. I just finally even got anything unpacked from the baby shower this last weekend. Marlin and I have both been sick, him with a Flu-like bug that's had him down for almost two weeks and me…

How is it already half-way through March. This is insane, time needs to slow down--I don't think I'm quite ready for baby to be here in 2 months! I just got back from a long weekend at my parents for a baby shower, it went really well and I got a ton of stuff. I also have several people giving me hand-me-down clothes and…

I think I'll hop back in this month with some goals. I'm starting to get pretty nervous out how fast May is getting here and how this winter won't end so we can finish getting things ready! I'm at a standstill on getting crib set-up until it quits snowing and melts and we can get the old furniture out of the room. March…

@WifiresGettingFit Yes, that baby shower is for me. My aunt/mom and pulling it together in Oregon, so that's why it's a bit early as I didn't want to travel 500 miles each way any later than March and we're sneaking it in before cows start calving the 2nd half of March. I am hoping something will also happen closer to…

I think I'm finally recovered from the event the first of the month and happy to switch gears mentally from work to baby! I can't believe we only have 87 days to go until she's here, it is going so fast. I hardly feel ready at all--Marlin is supposed to have her bedroom all cleaned out and ready to set-up as the nursery by…

@WifiresGettingFit It's a long story--in summary, it sucked--big time and people suck. If you have time for the details here is the long, rant/vent version! Well, I feel like the event totally kicked my *kitten* up one side and down the other--so glad to be home today and taking it easy. I think everyone who attended…

Sorry I haven't been checking in much, the event I've been working on the last several weeks starts tomorrow. I think I'm about ready! I head back up to the resort I stayed at a couple weeks ago tonight. I was going to leave at 6am tomorrow to set-up but found out that my room wouldn't be ready until 4pm and decided moving…

I hope everyone had a good January. It's been crazy and busy here for me. I'm juggling trying to eat right, yet still having 10 more days of long work days and getting home late. I'm 25 weeks on Friday and hovering around 9ish pounds gained, which I'm pretty happy with so far. I've done pretty good with my goals for the…

I am right in the thick of planning a 250+ person, 3 day conference and currently spending more time at my desk than at home. Our baby savings account will love the overtime, but I would so much rather be at home. 13 hours yesterday and looking like the same again today. Tomorrow I've got a 130 mile drive to the event…

Aww..so Marlin got to feel baby girl kicking for the first time last night and it just happened to be on his Birthday. She's not even here yet and she's upstaging me on birthday presents!!

@pezhed We've had her first name picked out for several years actually, Andrena. It's a name from a few generations back in Marlin's family tree. His great-grand aunt's name, although she went by Rena and that is what's on her headstone about a mile from our house. For a middle name, I think we'll use my grandmothers name,…