May Randoms Thread

steminist

Holy passage of time, Batman!  It's May!

My random to start us all off: I've noticed lately that when I lay on my back, my stomach moves with my heartbeat.  Makes sense given how close the major blood vessels must be to the surface of my belly, but it is still crazy to see!

AnnaS930

@Jabreen - Mine does this on occasion even when not pregnant.. but when I am.. it's really something to see! I got stuck in an hour of traffic this morning (unheard of for Maine) from an accident that I was hoping they would have had cleared by the time I went through. It was boring.. but baby was jumping all around so at least there was that to entertain me!

diagonalley

Hi! Hoping to be around more now that my show is over!  

PSUBecky23

I think we're going to give up on Team Green. The thought of getting the big announcement after baby comes out is still super exciting. But I'm a planner and a control freak and I just need to know. I'm going to give it until my next appointment which is May 24 and see how I feel.

jhems776

@Jabreen Mine too! I was looking because I could feel baby move and was curious if I could see it but not over the heartbeat movement.  

I was super ache-y yesterday, could not get comfortable, every limb and the bump felt 3x heavier.  Today when I looked in the mirror I swear my bump looks notably larger than yesterday, I'm kicking myself for forgetting to take a pic last week. 

camichael84

I don't see my belly move with my hearbeat, but I can feel it sometimes. It always makes me worry I'm somehow effecting the blood flow to the baby, and I move immediately. 

Also, I'm am feeling this baby so, so much more than I did DD by this point. With her I got light flutters a couple times a day and only when sitting down. I even remember as I was nearing 3rd tri, complaining to DH that I didn't feel her as much as I thought I would (I did eventually feel her frequently). I feel DD2 all throughout the day; when I'm sitting, standing, lying down. Sometimes it's light, but usually it's strong movement. Enough that I think I'd be able to feel it if I timed it right (she stops when I put my hand on my belly).

steminist

@PSUBecky23 No, don't leave me! Go Team Green!  

UnwritteN12

Total Random - My female cat (Dinah) has decided that I am her favorite human. We adopted her after we found out I was pregnant, so she has never known me any differently, whereas the other cat and the dogs all knew that something was different about me. Dinah has now decided to sit on me whenever I'm in the recliner. She gives me a meow of warning, jumps and proceeds to walk up my bump and finally lay across it and purr like there's no tomorrow. What's really cool is that the babies are responding to it. Every time Dinah is on my belly, they go crazy, which makes Dinah purr even louder.

AnnaS930

@camichael84 - it's hard for me to remember when the belly olympics started with Emmett but this little one is a star athlete already.  I'm feeling him multiple times a day with big movements that I can see on the outside. I missed this feeling   I swear I could be pregnant for the rest of my life, maybe I'm a weirdo

AnnaS930

We have so many packages on their way to us.. it feels like Christmas! I've got fabric for the nursery, my husband has a new hammock, I've got some maternity work out clothes, a futon cover for the nursery, a dresser for the nursery, and I feel like something else that I can't remember Woohoo!!

ruemcclanahan

@AnnaS930 I love packages!! It always makes my day when they arrive

hey_clever_girl

Jabreen said:

Holy passage of time, Batman!  It's May!

My random to start us all off: I've noticed lately that when I lay on my back, my stomach moves with my heartbeat.  Makes sense given how close the major blood vessels must be to the surface of my belly, but it is still crazy to see!

I've noticed that too!

AnnaS930

@Megan324 - right?!?!  It would be better if I hadn't ordered all of these... I love presents!  But the mail is still exciting.

AnnaS930

Another state that I contract with just requested an updated spreadsheet that I haven't worked on since December. Ruh-roh.... I think today might fly by as I sweat my balls off trying to pull this thing together and make it look legit

hey_clever_girl

So I made a weird discovery this weekend. I got out of the shower and noticed my nipple had some weird white stuff on it. I was like, dead skin? Then I was like... That's not dead skin. So I squeezed a little and behold: The tiniest bit of milk came out. I tried the other one and sure enough, itty bitty amount of milk. I guess my boobies are really excited about this baby? I didn't lactate with my daughter pre-birth, so I was surprised! 

PSUBecky23

Jabreen said:

@PSUBecky23 No, don't leave me! Go Team Green!  

I'm so conflicted. It's so silly.

The practical side of me is like, "Well, if it's a boy. That's a ton of girl clothes I could be selling right now and making money to buy tons of boy clothes." But if it's a girl, then what difference does it make?

reesaXden

@runningisrad  I noticed that happening too! I remember it with my son but I was more like 30+ weeks.  

jhems776

TTGP Grads - May check-in is posted.  I'll admit I was a bit lazy to tag names....

ruemcclanahan

@runningisrad thats amazing! (honestly im really freaked out about that whole thing haha but i still think its cool

AnnaS930

@runningisrad - I've noticed a bit of what I'm assuming is dried colostrum on my nips in the shower in the morning. I certainly did not lactate at all during my previous pregnancy, though had no issues with my milk coming in after birth (So fear not, FTMs!)  I haven't tried to hand express to see if there's any actual production there but perhaps!!

Sporty1216

For those that are feeling Olympics-sized movement--that is seriously the best! I can't wait to get there. The anterior placenta is definitely slowing things down on that front. I have felt her on the outside a couple of times, bit even movement itself is intermittent. I know we'll get there, but it really is the best part. I can't wait!

steminist

@PSUBecky23 I don't think it's silly.  DH and I are both solidly Green this time, since it's our first and neither of us care either way.  We figure not knowing will allow us to accumulate a bit more gender neutral stuff that can be reused.  If we had a bunch of stuff we were debating saving or not, though, the decision would definitely be harder!  Plus, I understand why people want to know early.  I think it's funny that people ask "Oh, so you want it to be a surprise?" as though finding out at 20 weeks instead of 40 weeks makes it not a surprise...

AnnaS930

I told my parents yesterday over lunch that my doctor had called my weight gain "significant" with a laugh. I was totally fishing for compliments for them to tell me I look great and don't worry about it.
I didn't get that.
My mom said something like "it's good, no one will think you're starving the baby.. it scares me when people are too thin when they're pregnant"  ... thanks?

I'm trying to remind myself that as soon as I lost the baby weight last time (very quickly luckily) I told myself I wouldn't obsess so much this time. Blah, it's hard. It's also hard that I've gained about 18 pounds at this point at 22 weeks, I can slow the amount gained but I'm obviously not going to (or even try to) lose the weight gained so far.. I'm not crazy!  So best I can do is hope to even out to a slower gain from this point forward but I already feel kinda crappy.

Ok, trying to move on. Baby is healthy and growing and it's not the end of the world!

If you see a pregnant friend.. tell her she looks awesome, whether she hasn't gained any weight or she's twice the size of her former self... a few kind words go a long way!!

camichael84

@AnnaS930 I've got a freakily good memory for little details. And I also have some stuff that I wrote down. Haha. The first time I saw DD moving my belly was right after an appt at 27 weeks. DH and I were lying in bed. I remember not really having felt her much prior to that. Daily movement, sure, but nothing like the movement the ladies on my BMB were describing. I also know I had to be sitting and squishing my belly at first to feel her. DD2 has been far more active than DD was on ultrasounds, so I don't know if it is that or placental placement. I had a complete anterior placenta with DD and this time it's only partially anterior. Either way, I LOVE it! For me, baby movement is the best part of pregnancy. Aside from the baby you get at the end of it.

marajay6

My 1 1/2 year old is totally becoming a daddy's boy. For a while, he totally preferred me over my husband (breast feeding contributes) but it is definitely swinging in the other direction. It makes me a bit sad, but I really do love seeing DH bond with our son. He is such a good dad! And having DS be close with DH will help make the transition easier when #2 comes in September.

AnnaS930

@marajay6 - For the past week or two after putting our little man into his PJs at bedtime, I pick him up from the changing table and he lunges for my husband to lay him down. It's a switch we made when it started to get uncomfortable for me to lower him into his crib.. but a few times it has broken my heart a bit. I have to remind myself that yes, he's going to my husband, but it's not trying to get away from me. I really love the father/son bond they have - and I know he gets excited to see my husband especially on days that he works late, but it's pretty hard after being in the trenches of toddler wrangling/entertaining all day to have him absolutely light up and squeal with joy when my husband gets home and leave me in his dust

Basically the good of it by far outweighs the bad, but it's still not easy!

camichael84

@runningisrad I've been noticing milk/colostrum for a while with this pregnancy. I'd get dried colostrum on my nipples with my first pregnancy, but this time, I'm finding milk stains actually in my bra. My milk had just dried up a couple months prior to BFP, so I've just figured my boobs didn't get the message they can take break for a while.

I meant to add this response in my last post, but got interrupted by a call from DH. He was extremely upset and complaining about work because... his morning has been boring. I love that he comes to me when he is upset or has problems, but seriously? He was having an extreme overreaction to a non-problem. Most of his co-workers are out because he works for the state, and they have tomorrow off for election day. So the office is slow. So he was stuck playing on the internet all morning. Poor baby.

hey_clever_girl

@reesaXden @Megan324 @AnnaS930 @camichael84 I was honestly surprised. I stopped nursing my daughter when she was 2 weeks old, and that was 6 years ago! I didn't think my body would respond early and that I wouldn't start lactating until after the baby came, like I did with my daughter. Not that I'm like... Actively lactating. Just noticing dried stuff (I guess it's colostrum) and a teensy bit comes out sometimes if I squeeze. Everything's happened sooner and has been more exaggerated with this pregnancy (morning sickness, showing, etc) so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

hey_clever_girl

AnnaS930 said:

I told my parents yesterday over lunch that my doctor had called my weight gain "significant" with a laugh. I was totally fishing for compliments for them to tell me I look great and don't worry about it.
I didn't get that.
My mom said something like "it's good, no one will think you're starving the baby.. it scares me when people are too thin when they're pregnant"  ... thanks?

I'm trying to remind myself that as soon as I lost the baby weight last time (very quickly luckily) I told myself I wouldn't obsess so much this time. Blah, it's hard. It's also hard that I've gained about 18 pounds at this point at 22 weeks, I can slow the amount gained but I'm obviously not going to (or even try to) lose the weight gained so far.. I'm not crazy!  So best I can do is hope to even out to a slower gain from this point forward but I already feel kinda crappy.

Ok, trying to move on. Baby is healthy and growing and it's not the end of the world!

If you see a pregnant friend.. tell her she looks awesome, whether she hasn't gained any weight or she's twice the size of her former self... a few kind words go a long way!!

I am of the belief that the ONLY thing you should EVER say to a pregnant mama regarding her looks is, "You look amazing. How do you feel?" 

THE END. Comments about size are never ok. Ugh.

hey_clever_girl

marajay6 said:

My 1 1/2 year old is totally becoming a daddy's boy. For a while, he totally preferred me over my husband (breast feeding contributes) but it is definitely swinging in the other direction. It makes me a bit sad, but I really do love seeing DH bond with our son. He is such a good dad! And having DS be close with DH will help make the transition easier when #2 comes in September.

My daughter has always swung back and forth between who she favors! I think it's normal for kids to go through phases like that.

camichael84

@AnnaS930 After my body carried and gave birth to McKenna, I told myself I'd never criticize it again. But then it's so much easier said than done. I'm clearly showing more this time than last and hated how long it took me to show with my first pregnancy, and now I look at photos of my last pregnancy and wonder why I can't look that way this time (I carried higher and had less weight in my face). Why can't I just be happy? And me from 2.5 years ago would have kicked myself for worrying about how I was showing at all because she would have just been so happy to not only be pregnant, but pregnant for baby #2.

JennM205

@Jabreen Team Green here and going strong so you're not alone! 

@PSUBecky I can totally relate with wanting to know whether or not to get out/wash/organize the bins and bins of girl clothes we have stored!  Luckily, we have a TON of gender neutral stuff from DD since we were Team Green with her, too.  So I think I'll just get all of that out and then get the girly stuff out after baby is born (if this LO is a girl).  Good luck with your decision - but I can honestly say I've never heard anyone disappointed in staying Team Green or in finding out!  So whatever you decide will be great!

RE: Leaky boobs - I haven't noticed any milk/colostrum yet, though I also haven't really been paying attention.  What I have noticed is that my boobs and nipples are all of a sudden insanely tender again!  Like, first tri, painful, engorged tenderness!  I haven't felt anything like this in weeks and weeks and all of a sudden, bam!  It's back.  And they seem to have gotten even fuller, too.  Which I don't know how is possible after as big as they already have been this pregnancy!

camichael84

@marajay6 @AnnaS930 My daughter is still preferring me over DH, but it's bittersweet. Partly because I'd like a break every now and again, and partly because despite the preference for momma, she still isn't saying the word "momma". I'm not even worried about her speech anymore. She's learning new words practically every day, and starting to string some together (she now says "did it!" a ton... it's adorable to hear her shout that out after every mega block she'll add to her tower). And she says "Muh" for a kiss sound, so I know she can make the sounds phonetically. She's just refusing to do it, and I don't even know how to get her to start. Stubborn child.

ruemcclanahan

I feel like I have exploded overnight, I actually have a bump to post this week in HDBD, and its huge!
I was waiting and waiting to "pop" and now that I have, I'm definitely having mixed feelings.
Overall I'm happy but I've struggled with my weight in the past couple years and its hard to convince myself that its baby and I'm not just getting fat.

JennM205

My random for today is that I became an Aunt (again) over the weekend!  My sister had her baby Saturday evening!!  They were Team Green but then had a growth ultrasound on Friday and baby was measuring rather large so we all assumed that meant boy (my niece was 8lbs3oz).  Sure enough, baby boy Sawyer John was born at 38w5d, 9lbs even, 21.5" long!  He has the cutest dimple chin and "old man" ears. 

I'm so happy for my sister in how everything turned out.  She had kind of a horrific labor/delivery experience with my niece and was (understandably) terrified during this entire pregnancy that this experience would be similar.  Luckily, it was nearly the exact opposite - what a relief!  Baby Sawyer has been struggling with low blood sugar, though, so still a bit of concern there but the doctors and nurses are taking appropriate action and will hopefully get it all figured out soon!

AnnaS930

@JennM205 - did you end up going for the delivery? I know you had mentioned that being a possibility before but wasn't sure what you had landed on. Either way, wishing your sis and baby Sawyer the best!

ruemcclanahan

@JennM205
That's so exciting!

JennM205

@AnnaS930 Yes!  I was able to go up and spend the day with my sister and BIL at the hospital on Saturday.  When she first arrived, she wasn't in active labor so we walked around for a few hours before they admitted her.  Once she was admitted, her doctor covered their options for a vbac (her originally preferred option) or a repeat cesarean.  Since the baby had been measuring big the day before, the chances for a successful vbac dropped significantly so, with the help of their doctor, they decided to go for the cesarean.  Obviously, I wasn't allowed in the OR for the actual surgery but I spent the entire day with them leading up to that and got to hang in the recovery and postpartum rooms with them as well!   

AnnaS930

@JennM205 - Fantastic! Sounds like she was able to make an informed decision that was best for her and the baby. I was also present for my sister's C-section (it was scheduled for her twins), and really enjoyed being present immediately after the babies were born!  Congrats, Auntie!  4 months until it's you're turn again!!

Alyeena

UnwritteN12 said:

Total Random - My female cat (Dinah) has decided that I am her favorite human. We adopted her after we found out I was pregnant, so she has never known me any differently, whereas the other cat and the dogs all knew that something was different about me. Dinah has now decided to sit on me whenever I'm in the recliner. She gives me a meow of warning, jumps and proceeds to walk up my bump and finally lay across it and purr like there's no tomorrow. What's really cool is that the babies are responding to it. Every time Dinah is on my belly, they go crazy, which makes Dinah purr even louder.

My cat Leia always comes to lie down on my lap when I am at my computer! If I put her down to get some water or go to the bathroom or something she waits for me to come back so she can lay down again. Sometimes she will put a paw on my belly and it makes me wonder if she can feel the baby movements too.

LizC216

AnnaS930 said:

@JennM205 - Fantastic! Sounds like she was able to make an informed decision that was best for her and the baby. I was also present for my sister's C-section (it was scheduled for her twins), and really enjoyed being present immediately after the babies were born!  Congrats, Auntie!  4 months until it's you're turn again!!

Reading that "4 months until it's you're turn again" made me really excited. I was like no way, then counted it out in my brain, then was like "holy shit!"...that'll be here in no time!

Yay for a positive thought on a Monday!