Pregnancy Check In (June 30)

firstcomeslove2013

Good Morning All,

Our roster list seems to be ever changing! This is sometimes heartbreaking and sometimes exciting! A great big CONGRATS to @ball.and.chain, her wife, and little baby Benjamin! So exciting!!!! We can't wait to hear more!

Here is our current EDD roster for this check-in:

1.@belovedvirgo0209 July 14 girl

2. @Kleigh1: July 26 girl

3. @2mamazinseattle: Aug 20 girl

4. @flygirl1228: Aug 21 girl/boy twins

5. @Trisholio and @trisholiosboi: Sept 2 girl

6. @shelly2314: Oct 2 twins

7. @1blueridgemama: Oct 22 boy/girl twins

8. @only1leia: Oct 31 singleton

9. @pauljl: Nov 2 girl

10. @byrrd: Nov 3 singleton

11. @Mazere: Nov 25 singleton

12. @rkbo: Dec 10 girl

13. @doodah1013 & @firstcomeslove2013: Dec 12 singleton

14. @RobertJane33: Jan 8 twins

15. @twobrooklynmoms: Jan 10 singleton

16. @jjlvscg: Jan 10 singleton

17. @cageymack: Jan 22 singleton

18. @louliza: Feb 1 singleton

19. @singingmua: Feb 2 singleton

20. @wishiwaspreggo: March 7 singleton

If you have a recent BFP (and/or if you are new to the board), please let me know when you want to be added to this list. I know there are a few new BFPs but I don’t want to add you until you are ready! Just let me know your EDD and other info if available! How is everyone feeling? How is pregnancy treating you and your partner this week? Any updates to share? QOTW: For those of us who will be first time parents, what are some fears you have about raising a child? What are some things you are excited about? For "repeat" parents, what are you looking forward to doing differently or what things were you scared of before and now you feel you have down comfortably.

rkbo

Good morning everyone!

Today I am 16w5d and I am still feeling pretty good. I have started to pop out some. My beer belly on top of my baby belly makes me look farther along than I already am. Yay for maternity clothes.

One of my longest fear about having children was turning into my biological mother. I know it's not really possible since I'm not an alcoholic druggie but it has always been my biggest fear.

What I am most excited about is being a mother and showing my child what unconditional love really is. I have an awesome wife by my side. I'm sure we will make some mistakes as parents but together I think we will be great loving parents.

@firstcomeslove2013 just to let you know my due date is Dec 10th

Can't believe I am #12 on the list already. I feel like I am moving up the list so quickly! Feels like just yesterday we got our positive pregnancy test. Aaahh!

firstcomeslove2013

@rbko fixed! For some reason I thought they changed your due date! Sorry about that!

wishiwaspreggo

Hey I'd like to be added to the roster, please!  My EDD is 3/7/15.  If I have to be taken off later... eh.  It'll be okay.  I'm really excited about being pregnant right now, but of course I understand it's still really early and anything could happen.

I told my parents this weekend.  I put a jar of Prego sauce (like my avatar!) in a gift bag and my mom opened it up and said "Oh look, J, she gave us pasta sauce!"  My dad got it first.  He turned and looked at us shocked and said "ARE YOU REALLY?!"  My mom sat there stunned for a minute and I said "Mom.  Read the jar."  And then she started screaming.  It was so cute I'm glad they're excited.  They'll be first-time grandparents and I know they've been wanting grandkids for years.  My brothers are relieved that the pressure is off them, at least for now.

I had my second beta draw this morning.  I'm supposed to get an answer sometime today or tomorrow morning.  My first beta was 20 (at 11 DPO - very early, yes, but I couldn't wait!).  I'm hoping for a strong doubling time!  I've still been using pee sticks like a crazy person and the line keeps getting darker so I'm taking that as a good sign.  Since I'm still on Prometrium I'm worried I'll miscarry and not know it because it indefinitely delays my period until I stop.

Anyhoo... I'm here now, and I'm pregnant now.  I'll update this post later with my beta count!

GTKY: My biggest fear is somehow not being good enough, that C and I aren't enough for our kids and they're going to miss that "daddy" figure in their lives.  We've done our very, very best to make sure our kids will know as much about their donor as possible and we've ensured they'll be able to contact the donor after they're 18.  But I just want them to be happy that C and I are their moms and not feel like anything's missing in their lives.

What I'm most excited about: surprising my kids and taking them on adventures.  I can't wait to take them to water parks, Disney, the beach, cruises, going camping, and when they're older visiting cities and traveling abroad.  I hope they get the travel bug as much as C and I did.  I also can't wait to see them experience all their firsts.  First ice cream, first time in the pool, first time visiting the zoo... all kinds of experiences to look forward to

doodah1013

Hello Everyone!

I must say... I am exhausted like no one's business this Monday morning.  I worked a full weekend camp-out, which means I had a 36 hour shift (yes there was some sleeping, but it was all on call, which isn't very restful... and I was sleeping on an air-mattress which didn't feel so great!)  My weekend was full of very physical activity, and a lot of heavy lifting.  I know the MW said nothing over 50 pounds, but geez, 50 pounds just seems so heavy.  And it was so hot out.... Lots of sweating and walking and more sweating.

I got ready for work in three stages this morning...  between each stage I had to lay down for 10 minutes.  It was ridiculous.  Even though I am not in the 1st trimester anymore, I still don't think my body is ready for some of the physicality my work is asking of me...  and I still feel first tri exhausted all the time!

And... I still have these sneaky puke attacks!  I don't feel nauseous all the time... But when I do, its pretty all the sudden and then coupled with a quick puke.  Then I feel better.  But that's okay.. I got so used to puking, as long as I can get to a bathroom, it just seems like old hat!

@firstcomeslove2013 has started her nursery plotting, which is exciting!  My in-laws were in town this weekend and that was really nice.  I didn't get to see them very much, but they talked to A about our shower situation.  We had decided to not have a baby shower, because I don't usually attend showers (we have a tradition of all the boys hanging out and doing something fun, usually involving root beer, hamburgers and geocaching, when showers take place.)  I thought for sure because I was the pregnant one, people would insist I be at the shower, and then they would want to poke me and rub my belly and that sounded like a nightmare.  Anyways, my wonder MIL thought that was ridiculous.  She said there was no need for me to be at the shower, and we could continue our tradition of root beer and geocaching.  Basically, she wanted us to know that she understand that A is the Mommy of this baby, no matter who is carrying it, and if anyone didn't understand that, tough noogies, they could deal with it themselves.  I just love that she "gets" us so much!

Other than that, I am looking forward to having 4 days off in a row at the end of this week!  There will be so much sleeping.

QOTD:  My big fears involve our kid not being able to be who they want to be, because of societies pressures to be one thing or another.  And that in our attempt to thwart this, we will bring them up in a space that is too politically charged...  I just want them to be able to be a kid... but there will be so many harsh realities that they won't have the "status quo" family and I certainly don't want to ignore that... but don't want them to grow up and have to learn adult things to quickly either.  Luckily, Columbus, OH has a lot of queer positive spaces and families, and we will definitely be tapping into that!

trisholio

Good Monday morning everyone!

Just a for warning, I am exhausted so if I don't make sense please excuse me :-)  My sister went to the Dr on Saturday morning due to low fetal movement, at that point she was 6 days past her due date.  I know in the grand scheme of things that isn't a big deal, but she was huge and miserable!  Plus there is seriously so much pressure to induce these days, it was crazy!  Well they were concerned about the baby inconsistent heart beat, so they induced her.  Long story short they jacked her up on pitocin and broke her water and it was a long night.  I made it until around 130am when she sent me home.  I ended up getting about 5 hours of sleep and headed back to the hospital.  Tucker was born at 11:22am at 7lbs 8oz and 20 inches long.  He is beautiful and so very tiny!  

My sister and I hired the same doula and I was able to observe and figure out what I do/don't want for my labor/delivery.  So it was very beneficial to be there, but exhausting!  I only wish my wife would have been with me, but she was at home with M and K.  I am still recovering today and I am just beat.  I feel like the last week has felt like my first trimester where I wanted to sleep all the time.  So I have a feeling these last two months of my pregnancy are going to be very tiring for me.

QOTD: I am fearful as a parent that my child will not be a good person and to me that would seem like a failure to me.  I am also afraid I will have a child that is nothing like me and that I cannot relate to in anyway.

I just had to share a picture of my sister and my nephew :-)

firstcomeslove2013

@wishiwaspreggo you are added! welcome!

Amber&Reva

Although it still feels a little premature I will update here.  My EDD is March 2nd or 3rd.  I will probably have a better idea after my first u/s next week.  At this moment I am just enjoying being pregnant again but not looking forward to the 1st tri symptoms that haven't shown up just yet.

QOTW:  I guess I am most nervous about finding childcare both financially and finding someone I would feel comfortable watching my child.  I am most excited about loving the S*** out of that little one.  Teaching them to be accepting and accept them in return for whoever they become.

AandStilltrying

Ok it's time to be added to the official roster. We graduated RE today at 7weeks + 1 day with TWINS!!!!

Heart rates were 159 and 138. such a blessing!

Sarah is still feeling horrible...super nauseated! 24/7!

Most nervous about raising kids in a society that doesn't view us as "normal"...worried that my kids will be bullied for 2 moms, but excited to teach them about diversity first hand. Worried about providing financially for 2.

Due date is Feb. 14th!

only1leia

I haven't checked in in a while, so here goes..

Pregnancy has been going along fine, but I am finding I am jealous that my wife carried first and I was able to take care of everything and baby her while she was pregnant.  Now we are chasing after our 10-month old and it is getting exhausting!  I'm 22w3d, so excited to be on the "downhill" side of pregnancy and past the halfway point.  I am so far pleased with my weight gain.  I started off overweight (I'm 5' 1" and pre-pregnancy was 144lbs), now I'm at about 164lbs.  My (very attainable) goal is to not go over 200.

QOTW: I'm excited about the prospect of being able to nurse our daughter as well as the new bean.  My wife and I can switch off in the middle of the night.  I also want to wear this one more.  When we tried to baby wear our daughter, she didn't like it (had to be facing out to see what was going on) so I want to get this one used to it.  Also: we are going to try harder to get the new one to sleep on his/her own.  Mak is still co-sleeping and so far getting her in her crib all night has not been achieved. 

Amber&Reva

@Aandstilltrying twins! Congratulations on two little heartbeats as well as graduating from the RE's office.

2MamazInSeattle

Hi all! I'm 33w6d... due Aug 20.

Yesterday we had our first weekly MFM appointment that includes an ultrasound, NST and either nurse practitioner or doctor visit. Today they were super behind and I was irritated, but all the tests were great. They checked my fluid (a big indicator with gestational diabetes of a whole bunch of things) and it was fine, and then Simone overperformed on her non-stress-test, having 8 movements in 20 minutes when only two are required. Good girl!

She is still breech. Last week at the break in childbirth ed class, I talked to Penny (Simkin) about it and she said that the fact that Simone has never been head down (well, once, at like 24w), does not bode well for her turning. She suggested that, sometimes, babies know best and there is a reason - short or weirdly placed cord, for example. I told her I was working on being ok with a c-section and she said "you can tell already you've come a long way, I know the kind of birth you wanted and it sounds like you will make peace with whatever happens." It was really nice to have her support and encouragement. This weekend we went away to Whidbey Island and I read aloud the chapter in Penny's book on c-sections. It made me really NOT want one...but also, I know almost no doctor will even try to deliver a breech baby, so while yes, I have a few weeks for her to turn, the last u/s pic we got was (literally) her face, then arm/hand, and then foot. All touching in a row. Sigh.

We did ask which docs were on c-section duty during the time we'd likely be scheduled for it. Luckily, one of our two favorites is on the schedule the week of our due date! So, at 36w if she is still breech we will be scheduled for a c-section (cancelled though if she flips) and I will keep making my way toward being emotionally ok with it. Honestly, it's so much about having wanted the whole experience of giving birth coupled with how freaked out having someone mess with my spine makes me. I realize a zillion epidurals/spinal blocks are done all the time, but man, if you are the one they goof up on, the consequences can be life long. But, again, I realize the odds of that are next to nil. This week I am going to get in with an acupuncturist, start the moxibustion, and begin the protocol on www.spinningbabies.com for breech babies. I'm undecided if I will do a version; part of me feels like I should trust Simone and let her be vs. forcing her to turn - maybe there is a good reason she is in this position. Anyhow...

Our shower is the 13th and J's mom bought a ticket to come from Arkansas for it! That was nice of her and we're excited. We've started getting some goodies off our registry from non-local friends which has been fun (and also nice to know what we have/don't have, etc.). I've got the lighting for the nursery worked out and just have to finish getting it all set up. Then hang the art, make a trip to the Container Store and then it's done! Goal is by the 10th for J's mom's arrival.

Physically I'm doing fine. Definitely tired and a little slow to get motivated to exercise, but still keeping up with it all. I lost a couple pounds (seriously, I do not get it) so my total weight gain is 2.5 pounds total...I keep thinking more will come but so long as baby is growing ok, I'm ok without so much of a postpartum cleanup!

QOTW: What fears don't I have? I get really scared about Simone's trisomy X and it's potential impact; of her hating us for having her knowing she might struggle because of it; of her adjustment to being a 'double donor kid' and having no genetic connection to us. I worry about her having two moms - even in Seattle where it really is no big deal, it's not like we'll never leave the city limits. But all that said, when I think about me and J, and how we will improve upon our parents' and the circle of people we will have in our lives supporting us, and her, I think it will all be ok!

CageyMack

@2MamazinSeattle-I'm really happy for you.  You have had such a long road to your current state, and I think you are handling it all so beautifully. 

I've heard it said that having a child is an exercise in letting go of control, and I know it to be true for me.  Your story, too, resonates with the whole idea that we can't control much of what we encounter in life; what we can control is how we deal with it.  I am inspired by the way you embrace your challenges, perhaps especially because you embrace slowly, with consideration and mindfulness.

Anyway, just wanted to convey that you inspire me to be awesome.

2MamazInSeattle

CageyMack said:

@2MamazinSeattle-I'm really happy for you.  You have had such a long road to your current state, and I think you are handling it all so beautifully. 

I've heard it said that having a child is an exercise in letting go of control, and I know it to be true for me.  Your story, too, resonates with the whole idea that we can't control much of what we encounter in life; what we can control is how we deal with it.  I am inspired by the way you embrace your challenges, perhaps especially because you embrace slowly, with consideration and mindfulness.

Anyway, just wanted to convey that you inspire me to be awesome.

@Cageymack, aw, you make me feel so good! I have to say, sometimes being of AMA is an advantage. I feel like I've really dealt with/processed a lot of struggles in my life long before TTC - and luckily a lot of those lessons are carrying over. I think having a kid is the ultimate in learning to let go, esp. as a 'recovered control freak' - and it will take me to the next level. which is scary and exciting!! For now, I remember Simone is her own being, and I am her mom and carrier, but she has some say in all of this. (Not that we will let her run the household, fyi ) but you get what I'm saying. Anyhow, thanks for the kind words!!

shelly2314

I'm at the #6 spot! OH %^&&*(* LOL

For those of us who will be first time parents, what are some fears you have about raising a child? What are some things you are excited about? For "repeat" parents, what are you looking forward to doing differently or what things were you scared of before and now you feel you have down comfortably.

Oh, I have many fears. Will we be enough? Will I have the energy for TWO girls (or even the patience). Things I am excited about abound...I am excited about sharing my favorite books, watching them grow into their own person, etc