Expecting Mommies ~ March 2008

[shaylabooboo]

First of all congratulations on our new arrivals during end of January and all of February:

anadday~ Dana ~ Kylie Marie born 1/31/08

Potaty~ Katy ~ Tucker Shay born 2/21/08

RedheadSTL~ Becky ~ Peyton Elizabeth Jamie born 2/21/08

lowcarbgrl4life~ Baby Boy Due Feb. 20th please check in and let us know how you both are doing and when he arrives!

Soon to arrive:

Moons Mom ~ Susan ~ DD March 11, 2008 ~ ?

Arden125 ~ Arden ~ DD March 25, 2008

Mirmir3 ~ DD March 28, 2008

Nikole ~ Nikki ~ DD April 1, 2008 ~ Boy

SBarr ~ Sandra ~ DD April 28, 2008 ~ Girl

Shaylabooboo ~ Shayla ~ DD April 28, 2008 ~ Boy

Wannabeslim4life ~ Melissa ~ DD May 1, 2008 ~ Girl

Cryssi ~ Cryssi ~ DD May 10, 2008 ~Boy

JessRN ~ Jess ~ DD June 10, 2008

Obraxton ~ Dessa ~ DD August 7, 2008

ljh150 ~ Janette ~ DD August 29, 2008

momof9 ~ DD September 15, 2008

Kim Moe ~ DD November 7, 2008

bomen1948 ~ update me on DD I'm guessing October 2008?

Texoma ~ update me on DD I'm guessing September 2008?

If I got any of this information wrong I apologize in advance and please check in and let us know how you are doing and any updates to add!!!

Can ya'll believe it's March already???????

[shaylabooboo]

I hope ya'll don't mind I started the thread this time cause today I have a little energy and in cleaning aka nesting mode. I figured while I'm sitting here yelling at the girls to clean their playroom which is taking a good long while I would check in and see how everyone else is doing.

I'm feeling better today overall and am looking forward to hearing how everyone else is doing!!!!

Kim Moe - looking forward to getting to know you! Great bunch of gals here all sharing our joys and miseries of pregnancy and the emotions that come along with it!

I can't believe that it is March already and next month I will have a son - It blows my mind!!!!!!!!

How are our mommies that are expecting this month????? Check in and let us know!!!!!

[CoverdGirl]

this morning that I am pregnant. I was planning this - like a YEAR from now!!
I am mom to 4 children already, divorced 2 years ago, engaged since November of last year. We were planning a fall wedding, now we are planning a fall baby shower!

Boy life sure can throw ya curves!!!!

I am back in college after a 15 years "break", going to be (of all things) a midwife. Those plans will continue as before, nothing much changed there...

Still, I had really planned on getting off another 50 pounds before attempting a pregnancy at 34+. it's been 7 years since I was pregnant last. Yikes.

Can you tell I"m still in shock???

So anyway, I'm hoping to stay on a low-carb diet but finding no medical studies to support eating this way. Not a big surprise, but I did come across one study that said spilling ketones during pregnancy was linked to learning disabilities... now these were gestational diabetic pregnancies so in my mind, that doesn't apply to ME. ??

Any thoughts??? Only my best friend and fiance' know. Don't know when I"ll tell me family. Bible-belt and all.

[sbarr]

Shayla - glad you started the thread.

Welcome CoverdGirl - lots going on for you. I hope your friends and family will be excited and supportive. On my part, John and I have not gotten married yet - although agreed to do so after the baby was born. My attitude - the baby (which we planned and even took Clomid for) is a bigger commitment than marriage - as I told my mom, you can divorce someone, but it's harder to "debaby".

Don't worry about your age - me, ripe old age of 42 and same for bomen1948, so you're doing well.

On the eating - are you planning hard core induction and ketosis, or more OWL and Maintenance (speaking from Atkins perspective)? From what I've read - depending on your weight, might be best to stay level and let baby consume the weight - meaning, that most people gain 25-40# and if you are clean and careful, your baby can absorb weight that you gradually shed and you end up the same weight at 9 months as you are now.

I'm up about 25# - had a bout of being sick last month that shook me up a bit. I've been eating more varied and low carb during the last trimester because I read the baby is developing taste buds - so, figure she might as well develop a taste for plain yogurt than Krispy Kremes.

Phew - I'm back from 2 days in NYC, walking around - OMG, I was huffing and puffing. I met a girlfriend/co-worker of mine from Malaysia for the weekend - I don't think I was quite the "fun time" she deserved, but we had a great time catching up. And yes, I wimped out and we did a couple of bus tours as well as boat to Statue of Liberty, walked through Times Square, etc.

By the end of the day yesterday, I had to beg off - suggested she go to a show and let me go back to hotel, but it was so cold (terrible wind, freezing temps) that we both just went to dinner and back to hotel. This little pre-girl does not like extensive walking - she seemed to gravitate to the obliques on my right side, as if she were going to climb through - a couple of times I had to stop walking and try to push her back. And me trying to run back to catch the ferry after seeing Statue of Liberty must have been a pretty funny site - I don't run very well now. So, for all of my skepticism about PG people needing special consideration like sitting, not standing in line - my heartfelt apologies.

[Kim Moe]

hey guys, how many grams of carbs do you have in a day? id like to know what "clean" is to you, ending up at my same weight 9 mos (well more like 7.5, as i am a speed gestator) from now would be unbelievable!!

[CoverdGirl]

sbarr, i'm thinking about 30 gams of carbs a day for awhile. which is what I was doing before Christmas. I've stayed steady since the holidays. For me, I might be in ketosis at 30 grams though. I'm dropping weight like WATER on less than that. And I don't think trying to lose at this point is a smart move. Even with my "thighs" to live off of (which could still feed a small village population) I am planning on not gaining at all. That's the goal.

I'll probably have to fiddle around with just how many carbs that is for me. Still don't know if ketosis is dangerous for pregnancy if it's not caused by restrictive diet (ie: too few calories). 'Cuz trust me, I"m getting plenty of calories on Atkins!!!

I'd like to know the answer to Kim Moe's questions above too. A starting point for me.

[shaylabooboo]

Coverdgirl!

[sbarr]

Kim and Coverdgirl - Good question on the number of carbs, I can't answer that one, hopefully someone else can respond - I haven't been counting carbs - instead focus is the types of food that I eat, not carb grams - sorry. I have been watching the scale - wanting to stay under a certain weight, which I've joked that I'd chew my arm off to stay under. I wanted to keep weight gain under a pound a week and the final tally under 200#. For me, clean has been avoiding HFCS's and eating as much organic food as possible.

Texoma is newly PG and might be able to respond - she's newly PG and is on LC with her doctor's support. Some of the other ladies probably also have some good input.

Cheers!

[Texoma]

Coverdgirl & Kim Moe congratulations to you both.

I was at goal and in Atkins maintenance when I found out I was pregnant. I tried to do the smart thing by adding in my 6-12 servings of grains a day. I did that for a couple of weeks and the whole time I had heartburn and indigestions with lots of bloating especially in my midsection.

At my first OB appointment (8weeks) I discussed nutrition for the baby and told her about what I was eating. Before I told her I had been low carb she told me to cut out the bread completely. That is when I told her that I was low carb. She is an Atkins '72 person. She told me to go back to my maintenance diet and keep it over 30 carbs a day. Well, in maintenance I eat more than 30 but I don't count so I don't have a definite number. I feel back to normal. Except for being really tired!

She said to keep out of ketosis. That is for sure. Also, even if a person is overweight...your fat stores do not have any nutrients for your growing baby. Eat to nourish. Make smart choices.

My menu looks like this.

B: 2eggs, bacon and cheese in a flat bread wrap (wrap=4 carbs) water
water
L: some sort of sandwich in a flat bread wrap a little bit of my DS's fruit water
water
S: dried fruit or meat water
water
D: something lc w/ a fruit or a more starchy vegetable. water
Did I mention water???


Once a week I go out to eat and eat whatever I want. This week I had pancakes and a cookie sundae with some Easter chocolate. Hey, whatever I'm craving has to all get in that night!

Get induction out of your head. You will gain weight and it is a good thing. Just make smart choices. LC is a good choice just make sure you stick to pre maintenance or maintenance.

[sbarr]

Texoma - great advice! I like your statement about fat stores not having the nutrients - makes perfect sense.

On my part - for some reasonable LC meals that stay out of ketosis:

B
Vitamins
1 cup of Coffee w/ H&H - my daily allotment is one cup in morning.

• 1 c. plain organic, unsweetened yogurt
• 1 c. blueberries (antioxidants and yummy) or 1 T peanut butter (I rotate)
• 2 T flax meal
• tiny splash of blackstrap molasses for a bit of sweetness

or

• Flax meal and whey protein cereal with H&H on top.

L

• Spicy antipasto type salad with chicken breast, avocado, some funky cheese from food co-op, red onion topped with olive oil and tabasco sauce.
• Sandwich or wrap - always need my avocado , might include cream cheese, mozzarella, some type of meat, onion, etc.

I know spicy is not what people think of when PG, but I figure if Lindsey's developing taste buds now, I want this girl to be adventuresome. She certainly won't get spicy genes from her father.

Snacks
Munching away on pistachio nuts or macadamia nuts throughout day
Maybe a sliced apple or grapefruit

Dinner
Whatever - might be pizza or turkey cutlets or 1/2 pastrami sandwich from a local deli - this is the meal that is a bit higher carb, but I try to keep it balanced.

So, I don't have a carb count, just a weekly monitoring of my weight and rule of thumb - how does my body feel. I abhor the carb bloats so will never have more than a single serving of bread or whatever during a meal.

Caveat emptor - this is my much more "reflective" and careful 3rd Trimester type of menu - needless to say, 1st/2nd Trimester, I gave myself a bit more leeway - and consumed my share of apple cider doughnuts and buffalo hot wing pizza. Now the thought of those - uh uh...no way.

I'm hoping that careful eating this last trimester will ease me into clean eating after the baby is born.

[sbarr]

Sending best thoughts out to all of the PG comrades. I'm still struggling with my sleep, never more than 2 hours at a time - I've taken to sleeping on couch because the cool leather feels good against my skin. Or, if I'm in the bedroom, I keep the window slightly open (even in cold New York winter) because our bedroom is right over the furnace and gets the most heat. No thermostat in the room, so keeping it a bit cooler won't create too much of a problem with utility bill.

Aside from sleep - having more trouble eating (and this is SO unlike me - I'm not the poster child for portion control, but a bowl of yogurt and I'm done). Last night, came home, had a couple of pieces of toast and then John brought sub sandwiches home, ate half, felt nauseous and up it came - so my portions are starting to get smaller and smaller. 6 months from now, fine - but, it's a struggle to get good food in. I always do my organic yogurt and flax meal for breakfast, a piece of fruit during morning. But, later in day - the thought of food, so unappealing - and this worries me a bit because baby should be gaining about 1/2 a pound a week and my weight is staying steady. I think I'm going to start portioning out nuts, cheese, other high calorie/fat foods to eat during the day.

This is all so weird for a chronic grazer who could eat all day. *sigh* - now, when I should eat, I don't - and this is not a time where I can say - oh, I'll do better next week. The time is NOW.

I'm thinking of starting a swimming regimen to see if the exercise will help me sleep at night - exercise has always been an appetite killer for me - but, maybe I'll just portion out and design my meals for the week in advance so I don't rely on appetite, which doesn't exist.

How's everyone else doing?

[Moons_Mom]

Oh yes Sandra, swimming is awesome when you're pregnant. I swam every day up until this week (and it's my last week to go) because it was the only good exercise I was getting and still reasonably comfortable. This week I quit just because of my total exhaustion.

I am finding pregnant with a 26mos. old to be very challenging because she just wants to rock her usual schedule which is very hard on me. However, it's good in that I am very busy and don't have much time to ruminate.

I am still very uncomfortable, I am (like Sandra) unable to sleep more than an 1.5hr at anytime because of the need to pee all day and night as well.

Thankfully my 2yr old will still nap 2 hours a day (thank you god!).

5 more days for me and then it's eviction notice time.

Love to all.

Susan

[sbarr]

Oh Susan - we look forward to your pictures and story (and you still don't know - boy or girl, right).... I'm glad you've been able to schedule everything locally and time it with DH's time off.

Fingers crossed and counting down for you!

[shaylabooboo]

Hi mommies!

Sandra- I am with you although I continue to gain weight which I think alot of is fluid/water because like you and others I'm not eating nearly enough or as healthy as I should. I'm just mainly tired and huge and tired and bloaty and huge and I do NOT feel beautiful at all. Then we watched Sicko the movie by Michael Moore about healthcare in the US compared to other countires and it really pissed me off how our country is. I cried throughout the movie especially the woman who lost her husband to kidney cancer Then I really got mad when I opened the mail today and received a letter from the hospital telling me that the full payment of what insurance does not cover for my anticipated delivery/stay is due in full 30 days before the date of my c-section which will be in like 2 weeks. I'm having a hard enough time paying for my mortgage and food and I'm expected to come up with over a thousand cash to pay the uncovered part??????? This really makes me because I refuse to pay for medical treatment that I've yet to receive and who knows how it will turn out???? Is that crazy or is it just me?

Let me move on. I tried to wear my little 2 inch wide heel slip on loafers today to work and it about killed me, I couldn't even walk up the stairs in the house with them on. I almost threw them out the car window before I even got home. Made me think back to just a couple weeks ago seeing Jennifer Lopez in stilletos at an awards show before giving birth to her twins - I guess I realized today I'm not Jennifer Lopez

Luckily I am sleeping okay which for me is about 2 hrs get up pee go back to sleep get up go pee you know the routine. But this is typical of me cause I like to drink all the way up until I go to sleep and everytime I get up to pee I fill it back up with something to drink. I'm weird I guess but I've always been that way - I'd rather have something to drink than something to eat And I can't eat without something cool/cold to drink. I don't know how people eat all their food without drinking something Like I said I'm weird.

I feel like I might be getting another UTI cause I have that lower back pain and the need to pee constantly or feel like I need to constantly - that is soooo aggravating. I've also been having menstrual like cramps and lower back pain that makes me paranoid I'm going into preterm labor. I probably should call the doctor but I feel like I'm overimagining things. Then I worry that if my water broke I wouldn't know because it's always been done for me or not at all in my 2nd pregnancy.

Just venting. I have my next OB visit on Monday and then it's every 2 weeks for me up until 36 weeks.

Susan- I know you are becoming more and more excited as your date arrives! I can't wait to hear back about the birth and what the baby is That is supposed to be an excited smiley. LOL.

Everyone else- Don't be strangers. I look forward to hearing/reading something from everyone!

OK I think I'm done for the night LOL

[sbarr]

OMG, Shayla - the hospital is asking for payment in advance? I have NEVER heard of that! What if you went to a different hospital for whatever reason? Pre-payment of an airline ticket is one thing - you can decide whether or not you want to fly, but hospitals are different. I can think of so many different scenarios where you might not use that hospital - and imagine trying to get your "deposit" back!!

Yes, I saw Sicko - and it was very difficult. I'm very fortunate to have good private insurance (which I appreciate more and more - even though the company has my soul). The part where the employees were under the evil employer, stuck because of insurance hit home.

Cute slippers? Get out of here, girl! I'm in either bare feet or low heel shoes - like boots or tennis shoes.

Do you actually get to sleep after getting up to pee? My hero!

[momof9]

if you call the hospital and set up a monthly payment plan (when i had no insurance it was 20.00 A month) they will be just fine. they will not keep you out but you must talk to them. i use to hate talking to billing but soon found out that they were resonable most of the time. swimming may stimulate your hunger. when i swim i am usually very hungry. good luck

[sbarr]

Back from ultrasounds and heartbeat monitor - things are going textbook again....big relief. My weight was up 1.5# (yeah!! - OMG, me glad that weight is up ), baby's heartbeat did the right 130-165 peaks and valleys every minute or so (they only really expect a few times, but my little alien was pretty active and it was fascinating to see her heartbeat go up when she moved, which was almost every minute or two), her head is pointed downward and unlikely to flip at this point - more good news and now I know why my obliques on the right side hurt so much - that's where her feet are. Maybe she's a soccer player in the making.

So, now I'm at weekly visits - getting a bit tedious, but each week is good news. Everything is going according to plan again.

Had a baby shower on Wed - the kindness of my work colleagues had me in tears. John's family (there are a LOT of them) is doing something early April - I'm almost uncomfortable with the gifts. I'm very low key, don't like a lot of attention - and feel almost guilty receiving gifts when we already have so much in life. I think I might collect duplicates and put together a package to take to a women's shelter or somewhere for someone who can benefit from it more than I can.

Wow - about 7 weeks to go, and counting!

Susan - best of luck for your birth - I know you're coming up very soon....

[Potaty]

Sandra~I am the same way about receiving gifts. I love giving them but feel totally awkward receiving them. I think that's wonderful about what you plan to do with duplicates. You've inspired me to donate some of the blankets I received to the pregnancy crisis center, I got a ton of them! So many that I will never gift another baby blanket as a gift, I had no idea how popular they were to give!

I wanted to pop in real quick to say that I have some great advice for diaper rash. Just burn some flour in a skillet, let it cool and then use it as you would a baby powder each time you diaper. It cleared Tucker's rash in a matter of a day. My aunt's pediatrician told her to do that back in the 70s and it really works!

[sbarr]

Hi Katy - what a handsome little man you have there (what a kissable face). I love the idea of using the flour - cheap, no chemicals. We're going to stay far away from talc and if flour is better than corn starch - great to know.

[shaylabooboo]

Good Luck Tomorrow Susan

I'm so excited to find out how it goes and whether it's a boy or girl!!!!

[shaylabooboo]

Hello mommies to be!

Today I have a headache
How is everyone else doing? I dread going to the doctor tomorrow and facing the scale - I've probably gained another 10 pounds or more

For the mommies who have already given birth - how much did you gain and how much did you lose after birth?

Just want to get my hopes up LOL.

[sbarr]

Best of luck, Susan - wishing a healthy baby and for you to enjoy a smooth recovery (and yes, we're dying to know whether little Madeline Moon is getting a sister or brother)

Shayla - sorry to hear about the headache. I got a second wind today - and hit 3 stores - another food co-op (I'm turning into a bit of a food Nazi trying to find as much organic as I can, especially on the meat side without having to get a second mortgage), sporting store to return an exercise ball for right size and then to that dreaded Wal-Mart.

Maybe you're not up 10# - when was the last time they weighed you? I get weighed every single appointment. Have you been on the scale at home. I'm pretty much on once a day - keeping pretty close track now that I'm back to eating again. They're telling me to expect the baby to grow 1/2 pound a week from here out - hopeully putting her at the average 7#. I'd love to donate that 1/2# a week from my own fluff, but not sure if that's reliable - so I have a new "mental" target to stay under for the duration, which is 5# lower than my chew off my arm limit.

[anadday]

Originally Posted by shaylabooboo

For the mommies who have already given birth - how much did you gain and how much did you lose after birth?

Just want to get my hopes up LOL.

I gained around 40 lbs. I lost 30 of it within the 1st 2 weeks of giving birth but that is where I am stuck now. I have not been trying to lose any of it though. Kylie doesnt like to be put down, so I snack a lot and eat quick easy carb-type food right now.
FYI, I am breastfeeding, I know you are suposed to lose easier when you breastfeed.

[shaylabooboo]

Thanks Dana! I'm still not sure if I am going to breastfeed or not although I do need the extra 500 or so calories you burn off doing so.

Sandra- I don't mean to sound dumb but what exactly is a food co-op? Is it like a farmers market? I want to start looking at healthier produce/meat options but I am really unsure where to even start.

I'm feeling better headache wise and I've eaten dinner which will last me about an hour

I made a pumpkin pie last night. It was really tasty, I'm surprised there is more left with me in the house and all.

I'm washing up all the baby clothes I have been given most are hand me downs but I'm not complaining Alot still have tags on them.

I wish I could really get into the nesting mode - you know cleaning cleaning cleaning but I'm not there yet. DH wants to go tomorrow to pick out paint for baby's room. MIL offered to buy the car seat/stroller combo today

It's getting soooooo close!!!