Gemmie

A quick post to say that baby Leo arrived 3 weeks ago.

He weighed 8lb 12oz. I was told I was being induced at a routine ultrasound- scary! But the birth went smoothly, not nearly as bad as I thought. I made it to 4cm with horrendous back labour all night and day and then got an epidural. 2 hours later, I was ready to push! Was a great experience. No side effects, was up within a couple of hours.

It's been challenging to say the least. Leo is hard work! For the first 2 weeks, he screamed all night and we were running on empty until we found that letting him sleep on our chests was the only thing that kept him quiet. It's not something we want to keep up, and in a couple of weeks when we're both home for a long weekend, we will start the process of getting him to sleep in his crib in his room. Any tips anyone??

Ahhh sorry it's been a while, ladies!

I've been so busy. Work has been both stressful and jam-packed full of different projects, it pretty much takes up most of my time. We also just moved. So far, we absolutely love it here and I can't wait to explore all of the beaches and parks that we can take the baby to as he grows. We haven't decorated the nursery yet, right now it's just a storage room, but getting there!

I'm now nearly 29 weeks! It's gone so fast.

I had a couple of months where I was feeling great, and then bam- I had SI joint pain so bad that I could barely walk. The hormones, plus the added weight, and my joint was jammed. I saw a Chiropractor for a month, but now my insurance has stopped covering the sessions, so a bit worried about that. They said a misaligned pelvis can make for a difficult birth. But for $80 a week, I don't know if I can keep it up. Other than that, just dealing with heartburn, aches and pains, struggling to breathe, bruised ribs, stretching skin, restless sleep, and I'm also anemic so need to start taking extra iron. The joys! Plus I think I failed my glucose test as we've been playing phone tag trying to discuss my result. That means I have to take the 3 hour one next- lovely!

Pregnancy has been both a joy and a pain. Our baby is doing well. We've decided to call him Leo Christopher Keeping it quiet apart from close friends and family, as when we were discussing names, everyone had an opinion. No one liked Leo, most of all my MIL- she keeps hoping we will change the name and suggesting other ones, but I finally just thought 'sod them- we like it, and that's all that matters'. He's a little wriggler, I feel him moving all the time, especially when I'm hungry. It's so strange seeing a foot pop out when he really gets going. My husband just rests his hand over me every day for about an hour.

I hope everyone is doing well. I wish I could keep up with VJ!

Bahhhh... my dad said "I thought you already knew ages ago and you said it was a girl" followed by "I would've liked a girl to be honest, I already have two grandsons, but never mind, always the future". Did that make me feel all glow-ey inside? He hasn't even spoken to me about the baby since we told him 2 months ago. My brother just sent a message with "congrats on your son". I really don't have any support from my family anyway, so it's not a huge shock that they are so blunt and uninvolved. It does upset me at times though.

We made a cake as a surprise for my hubby's family since they didn't know we were having a scan. They were happy (although again, MIL said she would have liked a girl as it would be different).

Bill and I both would have liked a girl, but we are happy regardless. I was beaming when I was told how healthy he is.

There was some drama when the in-laws assumed that they would be at the hospital during labour and delivery. Not. Happening. I've since made it very clear to my husband that I'm having them nowhere near, they can wait by the phone until we invite them over. I'm already feeling overwhelmed with the idea of giving birth, breastfeeding, bonding, recovering, and would like at least a couple of hours to adjust before having visitors. He was shocked at first since he always assumed his parents would be standing by and meet him ASAP, but we've sorted it now- or should I say 'I am not changing my mind' and he understands.

It's a BOY!!

The ultrasound was disappointing, the tech didn't let me see the screen and stayed silent the whole time. Then at the end, she had me roll around as baby had his legs crossed. She then casually just said "it's a boy"- we were like what?? We expected her to walk us through and do some kind of fun reveal. She then finally let me see the screen, showed me the #######, heart, bladder, hands/feet, profile, and then we were rushed away with some photos. Bummer! But I have to go back for another one this weekend as she missed part of the spine, and I will ask to see the baby this time.

The midwife notified me that the baby has a white spot on his heart. I almost died. But then she said it's ONLY a soft marker for Down's Syndrome, and my other tests came back negative, and my risk level was 1 in 50,000! So she said it's virtually no risk, and the baby won't have any heart problems.

Maven, it will be awesome if you get that done and dusted for the start of 2013.

I am SO EXCITED AND SO NERVOUS about the scan this afternoon, my heart is racing.

Baby's kicks are especially big when eating garlic bread... go figure.

What's the update on the other babies? How is your sister doing, Empress??

Argh, how frustrating. I have to admit, I would cry in your situation. And still wouldn't be as immature as him.

Sorry for being MIA, not much to report other than my baby is kicking away daily now and I'm only 18 weeks which apparently is very early. It's easily the best part of the pregnancy so far.

I find out the sex on Saturday!

Yeah, I know loads of people that didn't move until the baby was walking and they just needed the extra space. Your little one will be a baba for a good few months and able to share a room with you. I do plan on having a crib next to our bed for the first month or so, but I really want to get it moved into its room fairly quickly as I fear separation issues (for the both of us) and want to set a bedtime routine early (watch me in my naive way of thinking). Either way, I'm sure the situation will be resolved in the best way possible for you. Even if he's a few months old when you move, you'll still get to decorate a nursery.

Btw, spoke too soon with the nausea decreasing. Gagging over my own deodorant, walking too quickly, leaning forward too much, bluurrrgghhh

So amazing isn't it? Do you feel him move yet? I can't wait to feel that.

I'm still very tired but my nausea has decreased. I'll be 14 weeks in a few days and the midwife says that's when I should have more energy.

We looked at an apartment yesterday and signed for the waiting list to move in January. Right now we live in a one bedroom loft, and as cool as it is, I really don't want to have a screaming baby in one great room where every sound is amplified. The apartment is very insulated with thick carpeting and walls. The baby's room is a perfect size, right next to the master bedroom. The complex has a playground, a kid's pool, a duck pond and it's near a park and beach. I am just so excited to move already. We're going to paint the baby's room either pink or blue, so can't wait to find out. Are you getting a nursery ready now?

This is my favourite because of the legs and feet

Congratulations on the boy!

I kind of understand how you feel. I asked to speak to my brother on the phone and he said he was too busy, so I emailed him the news with the scan pictures, and INSTANTLY got a phone call. He said he was happy, but also made some negative comments. We were expecting that as my brother has a personality disorder (not exaggerating, he fits the diagnostic criteria and has always been hard to communicate with). I told my dad on the phone and didn't get a "congratulations" from him or my sister-in-law- my dad just kept saying he didn't expect it (even though we've been married for 3 years and are always talking about having kids) and wondered how we would cope- and my SIL just said "I hope you don't go through what I have" [with my nephews- they have developmental issues]. The males in my family seem to all have some kind of 'slow learning' going on. And I'm 90% convinced that this baby is a boy, and I am worried about that. But all we can do is hope for the best, we will love it no matter what and help it as much as we can if it turns out that way.

It is sad when your family can't be happy for you. So far they're the only ones that have been negative about my pregnancy. I long to tell family and get happiness and joy. But what with my mum and grandparents all having passed, all I have left is my dad and brother and we don't have a close bond these days. It's a real shame. Take comfort in your other family and/or friends around that are happy for you.

Absolutely gorgeous pictures of Loxley! That face on the ride is hilarious.

We had our 12 week scan the other day and it was amazing. The tech was trying to wake it up and have it move in a certain way to get the measurements, but it just refused- which meant we got a whole hour to stare at it.

Hi ladies! I have my anomaly scan tomorrow for Anglo-American baby number 2! No idea what the gender is but looking forward to finding out. So far I am finding the experience much different from the 1st, as I did that one alone in the Channel Islands before I moved. Maybe its the healthcare, maybe its the work life balance with one already. So far it's very boring though. Will get more exciting once we know if its team pink or blue!

Congratulations! Let us know which team you're on!

Tracy, please do not feel bad about venting AT ALL, this thread is about parenthood and all that comes with it, not just about the happy baby stuff. It sounds like you're going through a tough time at the moment, even if you have decided that things aren't going to change, it doesn't make it any easier. As with anything in life, there's always a little part at the back of your mind that hopes that things will get better and then sinks when they don't. I want to hear what's going on with you, Chas and Emily. I truly hope that things do get better and her grandparents realise that they are missing out, big time- as well as not giving you two the break you need.

Here is a pic of my "bump" at 11 weeks and 3 days. It is actually laughable But this is first thing in the morning. By the end of the day, I am full of bloat and roundness.

ETA:

Oh man, it's scary to read about the stresses of parenthood! I know it's inevitable, but for right now, I can't even think about how to balance work-family-sleep-couple time etc. I'm much happier just thinking of the scans and the little clothes and the joy. I'll just be ignorantly blissful for a while!

I haven't been around much but I do pop in now and then to read updated posts, and I hope all of you are hanging in there. I leave for work at 7:30am, get home around 5pm, my husband cooks dinner, and then I go to bed at 8pm. I am so wiped out that actually being in my living room is an accomplishment nowadays. I'm 11 weeks and 3 days- still getting some sickness, but nothing huge. Looking forward to starting the second trimester.

I have my NT scan on Tuesday. Will let you know how it goes!

Tracy, I'm sorry that your family aren't very supportive. I really don't see why a three hour period would tire them out to the point where they don't like having her stay. It doesn't seem fair, especially when there are so many families out there that either wish they could spend time with their grandchildren (in situations like on VJ, where oceans separate families) or wish they even had grandchildren. It's great that you like your babysitter though- it's important for you and the husband to have a break now and then. No one said it would be easy, and I'm sure no one expects it to be, but we're all human, and need some space and time to recharge, or we'll just cave.

Unfortunately, I think it will be the same with us. My husband has parents living 45 minutes away, but they never come to see us now (we had to practically force them last time by refusing to come to theirs again and again) because they don't like "long drives" and claim they just don't have the time because of work- this is when they were working part-time. We haven't yet told them that we're having a baby, but we don't anticipate any change when it's born. They already tell us that kids change everything in a relationship and that they're too young to be grandparents (they're both 56-ish). It's not nice to say, but this seems like something we will just have to handle ourselves. We don't really have any close friends around. Bill will be home all day as he works nights, so he won't get much break from childcare, and I will try my hardest to give him some time alone often, but I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out because I know there will be exhaustion from both of us.

I hope your sister's scan goes well tomorrow, Empress! I was thinking about her earlier, so checked this thread for updates. I have mine in 3 weeks time, and I'm already so nervous about whether there will be a heart beat, even though we already heard it at 8 weeks. I didn't realise how anxious this first trimester would be! I met with a midwife this week and had all the testing done. She tried to find the heartbeat with a doppler as long as I promised not to panic if she couldn't find it, as I was only 9 weeks. Never did find it, but I appreciate that she tried.

Yeah, apparently the extreme sickness is due to higher levels of HGC (pregnancy hormone) which scientifically, is higher when carrying females. The others are just myths, but it is fun to guess.

The Chinese calender says I'm having a boy, so I guess I can't argue with that.

Oh man, I feel so bad for you two. I couldn't stand being sicky for a few days, I have no idea how you handled it for weeks on end. And heartburn... I'm still not sure I know how that feels, but I probably will in the coming months.

My skin completely broke out this weekend, it was AWFUL. I read that I'm not allowed to use anything with certain ingredients in it (read: everything that works) so I just had to deal. But I found a Tea Tree Oil face mask that I bought from the Body Shop in England about SIX YEARS AGO, and it actually dried out of all the break-outs and 'froze' them, and it's gotten a lot better. I've read so much stuff online about pregnancy acne means you're having a girl, or not having much morning sickness means you're having a boy- I don't think there's anything in those old tales, but did they work for you and your experiences?

Did you have a terrible time during the first few months?

For being in the first trimester, I'm doing good. I've still got a bad head cold so dealing with congestion, headaches, general unpleasantness from the sinuses. Very short of breath. I get nauseous now and then, but nothing too bad there. The worst I've had is dry-heaving (when feeling slightly sick, looking at the cat litter does the trick). Just tired mostly. It sounds like I have a lot going on, but compared to what other women report, I feel very lucky.

I know exactly what you mean with the 'this is happening'- I've been looking at my pics ALL day and can't believe that it's growing inside me. Just looking at the head, seeing the start of the mouth/forehead/neck, and thinking 'we MADE that'- I can't imagine what it's like to actually give birth and see your baby for the first time! The lady doing the ultrasound wasn't very personable. She just wanted to get in there, get the measurements and get out. I had to ask her how big it was, and how things looked, she stayed quiet for most of the scan- she didn't even give us a due date. But I can't possibly feel annoyed today, I'm just in love with my husband's constant smile. He hadn't slept in 30 hours because he came straight from his night shift, but he was on such a high that he was wide awake and took me out to lunch.

Congratulations on your healthy little boy! Nice to have some new babies cooking in this thread. Sorry to hear she's been so unwell. I hope it dying down a bit now means she can have a break.

So I just got back from my ultrasound and everything is good! Saw the baby straight away where it should be, and it has a heartbeat of 160bpm which she said was bang in the middle of the normal range. My husband was holding my hand the whole time as I was so nervous, and I actually cried when I saw my little gummy bear on the screen- was just so emotional, I never expected to do that. I asked if everything looked normal and she said she's not a doctor so can't comment, but on the quiet, "nothing looks drastic". She gave us two pictures to take home. And the ultrasound itself really wasn't that bad. Just uncomfortable when she moved around in there. I go back on Monday to meet my midwife and have the first full prenatal visit.

Congratulations on your healthy little boy! Nice to have some new babies cooking in this thread. Sorry to hear she's been so unwell. I hope it dying down a bit now means she can have a break.

So I just got back from my ultrasound and everything is good! Saw the baby straight away where it should be, and it has a heartbeat of 160bpm which she said was bang in the middle of the normal range. My husband was holding my hand the whole time as I was so nervous, and I actually cried when I saw my little gummy bear on the screen- was just so emotional, I never expected to do that. I asked if everything looked normal and she said she's not a doctor so can't comment, but on the quiet, "nothing looks drastic". She gave us two pictures to take home. And the ultrasound itself really wasn't that bad. Just uncomfortable when she moved around in there. I go back on Monday to meet my midwife and have the first full prenatal visit.

ETA: Oh, and I'm measuring 8 weeks tomorrow, so I'm a few days further than I realised.

So my ultrasound is tomorrow. I'll let ya'll know how it goes.

Someone from the office called me to let me know about costs- there is a $500 deductible. I'm just confused about when the bills come in. She said it's after delivery, but then she also said they will start coming in soon and to let her know if I need a payment plan. I guess I'll have to clarify that. I didn't even think there would be a deductible. She told me I'm very lucky as she tells most people they have to pay the first $3,500.

Unfortunately I've been really ill, someone at work gave me a cold and there's nothing I can take for it so feeling sorry for myself in bed with a headache/congested head/completely out of it.

There isn't an official 'maternity leave', just a 'Leave of Absense for Medical Reason' and they include birth of a child in that. It's 16 weeks unpaid, so we're hoping we can get by on savings. My coworker said when she had her baby a couple years ago, they only gave her 6-8 weeks, but because she had been there for so long, she applied for an extension and they gave her the full 16 unpaid. It's terrible in comparison to the UK where I could take off 9 months to a year, paid. But my husband tells me to stop comparing them, it is what it is.

I will look into those wrist-bands, thank you! I did try the ginger cookie thing but the aftertaste made me feel worse. I found sipping lemonade and nibbling plain potato chips helps. Anyway it's actually disappeared as of yesterday (after just 4 and a half days of nausea). I know you will think I'm crazy, but I actually am comforted by it (as it means my hormones are on the rise), so I hope it comes back.

Spoke too soon, girls- as soon as I hit 6 weeks, the sickness began.

Just feeling seasick constantly, so have to eat every 3 hours.

Oh definitely. He is great at his job, pays loads of attention to detail, etc.

I just want to tell him to SHUT. UP. Especially now that I'm struggling to keep my eyes open at my desk with all the hormones, and I have him telling me pointless updates. I can't even politely hide it anymore. I just look at him, say OK, and turn away.

What is the NT scan?

The 12 week?

YES! Great news, she must be so relieved.

My b!tch is tense coworkers. My new "Supervisor"- he likes to remind me all the time that he's my supervisor even though we all coped perfectly fine without one for ages- is a self-confessed OCD obsessive. A simple project that should've taken 10 minutes took us an hour because he kept obsessing over exact measurements. He's also incredibly uptight. He likes to make a mountain out of a molehill, give me constant unneeded updates (such as literally telling me about the time later that he's going to tell me something), and generally unpleasant to be around. He has to wipe the sweat from his head with a paper towel, has shakey hands, and keeps referencing his high blood pressure over simple work tasks.

I'm such a laid-back person and we clash immensely.

I told him he needs to chill out if he expects to have children in the next year or two (which he does), and he insists that "oh trust me, you need to be OCD with kids". Erm, no, you need to learn flexibility and to relax.

I know I am an outsider but I keep following this thread..lol I love to read all the updates.

We are going to see a fertility doctor next Tuesday. We have been trying for a baby for about 2 years now. We did some initial testing a few months ago and all my parts seem to be in working order but there is an issue with my husband, most likely to do with his high blood pressure and his smoking habit I am 38 and I would like to have a baby before I hit 40..

I wanted to add that the first two times we tried I got pregnant within 3 or 4 months. the main difference back then was that my husband didn't smoke nearly as much as he does now ...

I loved lurking in this thread to read all the preggo and baby updates. Good luck with the doctor visit. I actually had no idea how much smoking could harm fertility (only marijuana and other drugs because the people I talk about this stuff with are prison inmates, haha)- I hope everything goes smoothly for you both.

Honey Crump, I think you would feel a lot of closure if you got the ball rolling and finalized the divorce. It is very "final" but then you can focus completely on your current situation. Don't let him guilt-trip you.