Pregnancy Thread - Friday, March 18th

[Marthad]

Surfdol...................Catherine Emily Jean.........Born 12/21/04
BrattyChelle...........Elana Marie.......................Born 12/23/04
GetNSlim...............Jonathan Charles..............Born 12/31/04
Kay&Lydi................"Baby".................... .........Born 01/06/05
Shandril105............Elizabeth Skye..................Born 01/10/05
Viki........................."Baby Girl".......................Born 01/18/05
Nyanchan................Audrey Kay......................Born 02/09/05
MadameX................Madeleine Jane................Born 02/09/05
metroames..............Grant David....................Born 02/18/05
kimism.....................Megan Elizabeth.............Born 02/25/05
shelly........................Ethan Cole.................... Born 03/05/05
JennPayton..............Natalie Grace...................Born 03/09/05


blueyedgrl....................W39................0 3/26/05......Boy
Heather123.................W38...............03/30/05......Boy
Marthad.......................W36................0 4/11/05......Boy
Dar20..........................W35...............0 4/16/05......Girl
Jefinner........................W35............... .04/16/05......Boy
GoJackets....................W33................05/03/05
Hooligan.......................W33................ 05/04/05
mom2twoboys.............W33...............05/07/05
chels_hoff.....................W32..............05/15/05......Boy
Ravenly74.....................W32................0 5/15/05......Boy
Denise85.......................W31...............0 5/22/05......Boy
tekla..............................W31............ ....05/23/05......Boy
azktycat.....................W29.................0 5/30/05.....Girl
Luna...........................W28................ .06/04/05.....Girl


Vixendrop...................W26................06/18/05.....Girl
naerenaenae...............W26................06/18/05.....Girl
jehcekah.....................W26.................0 6/22/05.....Boy
gilbabe75....................W25................06/25/05.....Boy
Miss Gigl......................W25.................06/26/05.....Girl
rooney........................W25................. .06/30/05....Boy
Acutepenguin...............W23.................07/10/05
allibaba.........................W23.............. ...07/12/05....Twins (Boy & Girl)
kclynn..........................W22............... .07/18/05
Tbugs...........................W21............... ..07/21/05
Mandyhoward...............W20.................07/30/05....Boy
melos...........................W20............... .08/01/05
SmileyAmy....................W19................08/05/05....Girl
Ketosisgirl......................W13.............. .9/22/05

jeepifer..........................W11............. ..10/04/05
Karingreen.....................W11................ .10/08/05
jojolw............................W?.............. .....??/??/05
Tammeli......................W8................... .10/24/05
LittleMagpie..................W7.................. .10/??/05

Green12........................................... ...Trying!
2BFitHourglass.................................... .Trying!
lil miss.............................................. ....Trying!
Nicole133......................................... ....Trying!
StrawberryGirl.................................... ..Trying!
AnnieO............................................ .....Trying!
speckle........................................... ......Trying!
Alissaliz......................................... ........Trying!
Aediekins......................................... .....Trying!
AZParalegal....................................... ....Trying!
DasiyNYC.......................................... ....Trying!
Kaillean.......................................... .......Trying!
Louise............................................ .......Trying!

[Marthad]

Morning everyone!

I'm also pretty worried about Mandy, I hope and everything is OK.

Ali, here is my list for packing. I got some of it done yesterday, but not everything--I need to buy a few things.

Your Labor Bag

Toothbrush (2) & Toothpaste
Several Pairs of Comfy Socks
Cotton Camisoles
Variety of hair ties, clips and barettes
5 Copies of our Birth Plan
drinking straws
Soft Toilet paper
Pillows
Wash Cloths
Big Soft Towel
big water bottle
Lip Balm
Change of Clothes for Alex
Snacks
Cell Phones
Mama Mia papers & ID
massage oil
lavander eye mask
swim trunks for Alex
Old T-shirt (for massage)
Slippers
Lollipops
Evian Mist
Soft Kleenex



Your Postpartum Bag
Camera, Film, extra batteries
Metric Conversion Formulas
Book to read
Make up Bag
Brush
Orange Juice
Snacks
Robe, nightgown
Cotton Nursing Bra
Coming Home Panties
Coming Home Clothes
Toiletries & Hair Dryer
Daily Facials
Shampoo
Conditioner
Body Wash
Toner & Face Cream
Body Lotion
Deoderant
Perfume
Spare Change for Vending Machine
Contacts for Dad
Change of Clothes for Dad



Baby's Diaper Bag
Baby Book
Breastfeeding Book
Baby's Clothes & Coming Home Outfit
breast pads
Blanket for Baby
Diapers
Burp Cloths
Baby Wipes
Diaper Cream
Antibiotic Ointment & Lannolin Oil
Baby Lotion
Baby Powder


If anyone has anything to add, please do! I'm not counting on there being anything at the hospital, besides huge maternity pads! LOL

Dar, it sounds like you're on top of things! I'm sure it will all work out

Becca, great new picture in your avi!

Sacha, so sorry about your loss!

So, our nursery furniture is in Stockholm! Some guy called last night at 8:30 and wanted to deliver it first thing this morning--fine, but he was planning on ME helping him carry it up the outside steps through the snow and then up to the nursery! I think not! We had to really argue with him that that was NOT an option. I swear, Swedes never want to do any work, its like they are always trying to do the minimum.

On the upsdide, even though I've never worked here, I'll be getting maternity pay from the Gov't. for 14 months!! (not enough to live on, but we were'nt expecting anything, and it will give a good start to the college fund)And, hubby can take something like 2 months with 80% pay. But, there is a cap on that, so it doesn't amount to much. But, yesterday, his office told him they'd make up the difference for 10 days--so, he'll get 2 weeks at 100% pay. At least we'll get a small bit of the hundreds of thousands of kroner he's paid in taxes over the years back.

I'm off to a midwife appointment, pedicure and shopping today. Wishing everyone a happy weekend!

Oh, btw, yesterday I gave myself an exfoliating scrub in the shower with The Gingerbread Man (Philosophy). Oh my gosh, that should be a weekly treat!! Go try it (especially Chels)

[BrattyChelle]

Lurking...and hoping Mandy is ok and checks in soon. She's in

[GoJackets]

I wonder if Mandy had a tear in her sac and they are keeping her on bed rest. This happened to a friend of ours around the same time in her pregnancy. She was hospitalized for about three weeks, and once the sac repaired itself she was released and carried the pregnancy to 36 weeks and had a healthy baby.

I guess it doesn't do any good to speculate, just hoping for the best possible outcome.

[allibaba]

Good Morning Ladies,

~Martha - I think you've got yourself covered LOL. I don't think you'll need the ointments or diaper cream, powder for the baby though. It should be much too early for a diaper rash. Ds has only had 2 and that was when he was sick with diarrhea and he's 2.5 now. Our hospital also furnished us with diapers and used soft washclothes for baby's bum .
What's the deal with the furniture guy? Did they really expect YOU to carry it all up? Good Lord! He'd probably expect a tip too!!

~Dena - Let's hope it's something with a good outcome .

~Mandy - Still hoping to hear from you that all is well.

Off to take ds to playgroup for a few hours, I'll be back later to check in.

Alli

[gilbabe75]

MANDY!!!!!

Where art thou MANDY!!!!



I am making a new rule that you gotta make a friend on the board that knows your phone number. That way we can check up on the missing.

Hope all is well Mandy....


I will do Personals later on.

[Jefinner]

Yeah, having someone hear with a phone number is good... I'm worried about Mandy too.

MARTHA - You are WAY prepared!!! That's just stupid about the guy wanting YOU to help him! You're pregnant, for crying out loud.

HOLA PREGGIE MOMMIES! I'll be back later!

[SmileyAmy]

I like that idea about having a phone number for one person on the board - just in case.

I am really worried about Mandy - especially where her DH isn't around. I hope & pray everything is okay and I pray that she checks in soon!

Busy, busy today...sorry, no time for personals, but I will be checking in periodically.

[Dar20]

Just popping in really quick to say hello and hoping Mandy and baby are okay.

Martha, great news about the maternity pay! What a big help!

Thanks to all the mommies for their PM's.. they were very helpful.

Only thing new in my world is my right foot started swelling last night. Like, really swelling.. not just the end-of-day swelling I've been getting. I must have been sitting funny or something. I also need to get new socks for the last few weeks.. some much looser ones.

Anyways, back to work. BBL!

[heather123]

Good morning~

Martha-Yes, I'd say you're bags are well covered The only extra thing I brought for my labor were a couple of movies-I had a VERY long induction and DH left me at the hospital *by myself* for several hours, so the movies really helped the time pass during the nonproductive contractions.
That's nice you'll be getting some money from the gov't. You're so good already thinking about the college fund.

Hello to everyone else!

So should we do the "buddy system" where we all pair up and share our phone number?

I had an OB appt yesterday, I ended up cancelling last weeks, btw. The appt was noneventful. My BP and urine was fine, she checked my cervix and she told me this time it's hard, and completely closed. Last time she tolded me it had softened and I was 50%effaced. And said she dosen't like her patients to go over 41 weeks. At my u/s two weeks ago she said the baby was measuring to be born around April 10 (my due date is March 30) So shouldn't she go two weeks past April 10?! Not one week past March 30? I don't even want to go back to that office.
I do not want to be induced again. Sorry for the vent.

[nyanchan]

Morning all-

I'M SO TIRED!! Audrey kept me up most of the night... I finally put her in the swing at 6 and she finally went to sleep. I was curled up on the floor in front of the swing. So not comfortable.. Now my hip is killing me... The upside is that she's still sleeping! The downside is that I need to wake her up to eat... my boobs are killing me!

Ladies- enjoy as much sleep as you can now! I would love to only get up to pee a couple of times then go right back to sleep...

I had a fun day planned.. We were going to visit a girlfriend that lived about 45 minutes away that's on bedrest. She's 33 weeks and bored stiff. I had bought stuff for a nice lunch and was bringing her a ton of magazines... Oh well... I'm just too tired to drive that far. Don't trust myself not to fall asleep at the wheel. Maybe next week!

Later!

Dierdre

[Dar20]

Heather, what a bummer to get that news. And so close to your due date, too.

Martha, one thing I wanted to add, looking at your list (and furiously making my own)... as Michelle reminded us, bring a pen (or 2)!

Does anyone out there have a checklist for what to have at home for baby as far as things for cleaning baby and such? Like cotton balls, alcohol, etc. Are there any medications I should have on hand, too? If anyone has a link to something like that, please share. I want to make sure I have everything I might need here and ready! We plan to go shopping this weekend for that kind of stuff.

[nyanchan]

Dar- We bought J&J baby wash, alcohol wipes (like you use to prep for shots), lot's of washclothes (for diaper changes- our hospital suggested not using wipes for a while). These are the things that we use/used all the time. The alcohol wipes were more convenient than the cotton balls & alcohol for me!

Just as a preventative we bought some baby gas medicine (mycelix?), just used it the other night... I also had Guy buy a small pre-mixed formula, just in case my milk never stepped up and the baby was ravenous. Never had to use it, but it made me feel better.. like if she was starving that I could do something about it.

Dierdre

[Dar20]

Thanks, Dierdre! I hope you can get some rest today.

[mandyhoward]

Hi ladies. I'm sorry it has taken me so long to check in. I knew you'd all be worried sick yesterday. My water has broken and I'm in the hospital. The gush on Wednesday night that I posted about was one of many I had until pre-dawn on Thursday. They took me in for a u/s yesterday and my fluid levels are at 4 cm when they would be at 11 cm if my water bag hadn't ruptured. Regardless of if my bag repairs itself or not, I'm in the bed until the baby comes. I'm hoping they keep me in the hospital until the baby is viable. The high risk doctor is out of town until Monday, but my regular OB has been in and out and has said that if I go into active labor they won't take measures to stop it. I'm being pumped full of antibiotics to prevent any kind of infection and I've been given 2 steriod shots to boost the baby's lungs, just in case. I haven't had anymore large gushes of fluid in 24 hours and if I've got a slow leak I can't feel it. My OB is very hopeful about the situation, so much so that she doesn't feel Jake needs to come home. And he can't come home until she feels he needs to. We sent a Red Cross message on Wednesday night when I was admitted to the hospital and he called at 1:45 am here, so I am grateful to the RC for working so fast. They had a message from their center in the states to Jake's hands in less than 3 hours.

Keep baby and me in your thoughts and prayers please. I'm now categorized a high risk pregnancy. The doctor is praying we make it to 30 weeks, so we have 9 more to go. He has to stay in for about 4 more weeks in order for him to have a chance of survival at all if he's born. No regular or painful contractions have occured, so that is looking good. Every once and a while I'll have what feels like a period cramp and the nurse says that is a mild contraction. They are going to give me a 3d u/s when the high risk doctor gets back to see if my fluid levels are building back up. At this point, that would be a very, very good thing.

Since I've figured out how to hook my laptop up I'll be around. I'm sorry I haven't done personals, but I'll catch up shortly. Hope everyone is doing well.

Mandy

[Dar20]

Oh, Mandy, I'm so sorry to hear you are going through this, but fortunately it sounds good for now. You are in my thoughts and prayers. I can't imagine how rough this is for you with DH gone. You sound strong, but I'm sure this is hard. Lots of for you.

[Jefinner]

OH MANDY!!! You are definitely in my prayers...

I don't know if it's any comfort or not, but I was watching Discovery Health Channel, and a lady was admitted for the same thing. They made it past 30 weeks (I think 34 weeks), and he was 4 pounds. He had to stay there, but he was okay.

[bakergirl74]

Oh Hun, I am a lurker, but I will keep you in my prayers..

I hope for the best for you your DH and you little one!!!

Cari

[heather123]

I'm sorry to hear that Mandy. You and the baby will be in my prayers. I know this has to be hard on you, just think positive.

[Mrs Sarah]

I'm so glad to hear from you Mandy! Please take good care of yourself! I'm so glad they were able to get a message to Jake so quickly.

I have to share this pic, I took it this morning and I just love it! The color is a little funky because I had to lighten it. Our room was pretty dark.

[gilbabe75]

OH Mandy, I'm sorry you and baby have to go thru this. Take good care of yourself and LISTEN TO THOSE DRS. Bedrest is hard but it is the most important job you have right now. Glad they were able to contact your DH, that is such a hard situation. You, baby and Daddy are in my thoughts. Hang in there.

[vixendrop]

Mandy! {{{{{hugs}}}}}

[gilbabe75]

sarah, that is a great pic!

[SmileyAmy]

Mandy!!! I am glad that you were able the check in...we all have been worried sick!! I am glad that the doctors don't seem to be hugely concerned - otherwise, I am sure they would have DH on his way home. Just keep positive and check in and vent here whenever you need to!! We are all here for you! I will keep all my fingers & toes crossed for you and baby!

Take care of yourself and pop in when you can.

And, no need to appoligize for not doing personals silly...you need to be thinking about yourself and your precious baby right now. Not us.

{{{{Mandy, Baby & DH}}}}

[Miss Gigl]

Hi everyone,

Can't hang out long, just wanted to tell Mandy I'm so glad she's hanging in there. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your DH and baby. DH must be sick with worry, I'm glad RC could get a message to him so fast. I'm also glad you got your computer up and running so we can keep tabs on you! Let me know if there's anything you need.

Awesome picture, Sarah!

Meg

[nyanchan]

Mandy- hugs and positive vibes to you, the baby and your husband. We're all here for you... I'm glad that your Dr. is hopeful about everything. I'm really glad that you could talk to your husband..

Dierdre

[Laprettygurl]

Mandy~ Drink lots of water...tons more and more. It'll keep your fluid up! Take it easy.....

Dar~ I only use baby shampoo on Cass for skin and hair. I was told to clean the umbilical stump with just water. Other than that I have vaseline. Her big cheeks get chapped sometimes and maybe some desitin (Haven't had to use it yet )