Randoms and Questions 2.13 - 2.17

mdlorenz

@kns1988 Measuring fundal height (using measuring tape) is totally variable. You definitely have to start and end at the right landmarks and in our practice the normal range for size is +/- 3 cm (some people use 2). As you slide into the 3rd trimester, both fundal height AND ultrasound become notoriously inaccurate (u/s can be off by a whole pound either way in terms of estimated fetal weight - "EFW"). I can't  imagine what PGAL brain feels like but I would try to reassure you that your belly is WELL within the normal range. Keep it up mama

livin541

I'm also on my second boy and totally agree about the lack of cute clothing options! Little boy shoes have become a bit of an obsession for me, and I have ended up doing a lot of online/small business shopping to try to find cuter stuff that doesn't say "little man" or have sports stuff all over it!

MTB16

The prices of photography really can be nuts, I booked ours today, total cost of $3,900 for newborn, 6 months, and 1st birthday smash cake sessions. It also includes about 10 various size prints and a few digital images with each session. I'm pretty happy with what I'm getting for the price. 

kns1988

Thanks, @ShadeofGreen816 and @mdlorenz! I appreciate the reassurance. It was only a centimeter off, which seems pretty insignificant. It's good to hear that it varies. 

bacorrea

Anyone have a treadmill or elliptical they love?

ShadeofGreen816

Copy pasting from my Ticker Change post this morning but now I'm curious and wondering if I can get some info from those of you with hip pain/problems. 
 Since HS, I have had periods of time where my hips kill me at night/in the morning. Its a pretty deep pain right in my hip joint and it feels like it radiates down my femur. Its just an ache, no nerve type feelings. It's better when I sleep with a pillow between my knees.
 No one has ever been able to tell me what it is. Now that I'm getting bigger, it's really come back with a vengeance. Is there a name for this pain?? Is this a pregnancy s/e that is well known?? I would love to have a name for this pain in the future when I'm not pregnant!
Ps. Have been X-rayed, tested for RA/lupus etc, and at one point was diagnosed with "bursitis" but that never felt like it fit right for me. 

Squirtgun

Apparently you Canadians have all the luck. Just saying. Lucky charms oatmeal is being released, only in Canada for now. It sounds amazing. 

https://www.delish.com/food-news/a51540/lucky-charms-oatmeal/

WombThereItIs

You guys have it backwards. Boys clothes are where it's at. I have a boy already and love the simplicity of his clothes. 

Looking into girl stuff for this time is daunting. So many dresses and bloomers and bows and hair bands and all sorts of foofy crap that I am like nooooope about. 

Also im an immature jackass and everytime I scroll by the "babies sex" post I just want to reply "None. My baby is abstinent."

achays11

@ShadeofGreen816 my BIL in a PT and when I told him about my hip pain he did a quick assessment and determined that one of my hips had slipped out of place. He did a quick adjustment and I was good as new.

He said that since our hip joints aren't just straight joints, that they have all of these curves and grooves so to speak, that it is easy for them to slide out of place slightly causing discomfort. Especially if you tend to lean on one foot when you stand and lean to one side while you sit. Nothing to be concerned about, but maybe you could get a PT referral from your doctor. My pain comes and goes now, but I just have him adjust me and I am fine. 

MoshiMoshi7

@WombThereItIs I feel the same way about boy clothes! It was an adjustment at first to figure out where to buy cute stuff (I don't really like sayings or cartoon characters) but everything is pretty straight forward. Now I feel like I must be programmed or something, because when I looked at Target for girl things the other day, I couldn't decide on anything. But I found some more cute stuff for DS!

kns1988

@ShadeofGreen816, I get that deep pain, too, especially now that I'm pregnant, but mine doesn't radiate. I also have issues with my hips being out of place and have to get them adjusted by a chiropractor periodically. I'd wonder if the radiating is related to sciatica.

clebl24

@lrwardrop. My newborn photo session is scheduled. A few friends purchased me a session for DS as a shower gift.  She does photography on the side so the prices are reasonable.  We've continued to use her for mini sessions over the years and have been pleased.  

I'm not planning to do maternity photos; however, I may do a mommy and me mini session for Mother's Day and I'll be very pregnant.  

clebl24

@nda_roxybabe. We are team green. I'm not expecting a shower since this is our second. I'm hoping to go through DS's newborn clothes and pick out a few gender neutral things to get us through the first few days if this baby is a girl.  If we have a boy, we're set. If we have a girl, I fully anticipate that the grandmothers will fill her closet in less than a week.  

clebl24

I need a place to vent. DH and I have never been big on Valentine's Day. We typically get cards and maybe a small gift (flowers, chocolate, mixed nuts), nothing extravagant, but we do acknowledge the man made commercialized occasion.  

Well, he just told me that he has nothing and let's just do it later in the week. He was off work today, but didn't get out.  I wanted to say you can order flowers sitting on the sofa in your underwear. It doesn't require getting out.  We also live 2 mins from a CVS and he was at the grocery store last night.  For crying out loud, when he realized he didn't get  anything, it wasn't that late. Why not just run around the corner and not drop the ball?  Or even stop on the way home tomorrow? Instead he just tells me he did nothing.

My pregnancy hormones were already raging and this doesn't help. I'd rather be disappointed tomorrow than deal with trying to fall asleep feeling sad. 

I know it's stupid, but I want him to know how I feel. However, I know that will just make him feel like crap.  Would you say something or keep a lid on it and be the better person? 

Sorry for rant. 

bubsalicious

@clebl24 I'd probably keep a lid on it and be the bigger person. But I would probably also be passive aggressive and use the spare time to make the present extra special hoping he'd feel bad dropping the ball.

jayandaplus

@rosemarylaff For me, I want a pediatrician that can do procedures in office like IV fluids, breathing treatments, sutures. Agree with what others said too.

vrj0522

kns1988 said:

My measurements with the tape measure - not a U/S - were 1 week behind today even though I've gained 20 pounds during this pregnancy. I was measuring 24 at 25 weeks. The doctor said it's normal and that there can be a 2 week variance, but it still really bothers me because of PGAL brain. He has a good heartbeat and I feel him move all the time, though. Anyone else measuring a little small? 

I don't remember when it began but I also  measured 1 week behind with DD for a long time. She was born 4 days after her edd but she was still an 8lb baby. With DS I measured 6 days ahead by u/s but 2 weeks ahead by tape measure. He was born 2 days early and again an 8 lb baby. I wouldn't worry at all. Your actual edd might be a little off or simply the measurements are off.  

vrj0522

@bacorrea - We've had a Life Fitness F1 for a couple of years and I love it. Good amount of controls and great impact-wise. It is a bigger one though.

Louise_Belcher

@nda_roxybabe We (and guests) didn't know baby's sex at my shower last time and we received very few outfits. Of the ones we received there were only a couple useable outfits due to the guest guessing the wrong sex or the size being out of season once it fit DS. Plan on buying some neutral clothes, so you have options you like. 

@WombThereItIs I am with you on boy clothes. While I do not doubt it is fun to dress a girl I think it is too easy and somewhat overwhelming (don't get me wrong I will go crazy with purchases if I ever have a girl). There is just something about the hunt for great finds for boys that I love. 

I feel like the odd man out on the newborn and maternity shoots (or any professional photography). While I think many are adorable I cannot justify the expense especially because I do not frame and hang photos in my house. Can't wait to see everyone's cute photos though!

kns1988

@Louise_Belcher, I'm with you. We aren't big picture people, so as long as we take a few ourselves, we'll be happy. We've been working on filling a book with pictures for the past 5 years, and it's only like a 25 page photo book. 

jlonie614

thanks @nda_roxybabe, @vrj0522  @lrwardrop, @SKZW and @joyandaplus for all the good advice. 

Jens_Hoes

@clebl24 I would probably say something to him, not in a way that you're yelling at him or chastising him, but how the situation made you feel, and how you might want it handled in the future so that it didn't hurt your feelings.  If he doesn't know that he made you upset, he can't ensure that it won't happen again.

kat81

nda_roxybabe said:

Q for you past Team Green moms: Did you really get any clothes at your shower(s)? It dawned on my this weekend I actually may not get a lot of clothes for baby and should probably start thinking about getting some stuff for immediate wear.

You don't get that many clothes if you're team green, but you'll get some. I wouldn't worry about going crazy buying stuff, though. Some people will buy things for you right after the baby is born because they're excited they can finally purchase something gendered. Also, if you have a small or even medium-sized baby, you'll have to buy stuff on your own anyway. No one ever gifts newborn sized clothes, just 0-3 mo. We had so much 0-3 mo stuff that DS didn't even wear every outfit, I don't think. Remember, this is after being team green we had TOO many baby clothes. Some were from the shower and some were from after he was born. Meanwhile, he was really small and grew slowly at first, so he wore the same 5 newborn outfits that we bought ourselves (that includes pjs) non-stop for 2 months. Most kids will outgrow newborn size within a month but most will need to pass through that size rather than start immediately on 0-3 mo. Even people who are team blue or pink don't know the baby's size until they're born, so again, you'll probably have to buy some of your own stuff regardless.

kat81

Driving vent -- last night I merged onto the highway and started going about 70 in a 55 mph zone (faster than average, but not absurd; most people are going at least 60 on this road.) There were some slow cars & trucks in the middle lane, so I kept passing them on the right. I noticed another car behind me also going fast. Once we passed the group of slow middle lane cars, I stayed in the right lane (it was still clear and I figured that car might want to pass me). The middle lane was also clear at this point. The left lane only had a few cars in it. The car behind me kept sort of tailing me and then turned on their brights!* Finally, after what seemed like a lot of time passed, they turned off their brights and sped past me on the left. Seriously?! They could have passed me immediately, as soon as we got past those slow cars, but no. Only AFTER that did they put on their brights in an angry way. What the hell? Also, this was the far right lane and I was already going 15 mph over the speed limit!

Personally I think that tailing is never excusable, but if you inch up behind a car that is going too slow (i.e. in the left lane) for a very short time in order to sneak around them, that is not SO horrible, especially because it's that person's fault for just hanging out in the left lane not passing anyone. But to tail someone in the right lane AND turn on your bright lights when there is PLENTY of room to pass them and the person is already going fast...I don't get that at all.

*I was so incredulous that I made sure to check that my lights were on and there were no other things wrong with my car. No, they weren't trying to tell me something; just being an asshole.

psherman42wwsa

MTB16 said:

The prices of photography really can be nuts, I booked ours today, total cost of $3,900 for newborn, 6 months, and 1st birthday smash cake sessions. It also includes about 10 various size prints and a few digital images with each session. I'm pretty happy with what I'm getting for the price. 

Holy crap! that's expensive! I would hope for that price you get photo rights to every single photo.

RainyDays86

I've been MIA since I don't usually open my computer on the weekends and I had yesterday off for chemo week.  A few things that caught my eye since there's way too much already to respond to everything after just a day  .

I'm with @WombThereItIs that boy clothes are so much easier/cuter!  Being Team Green we haven't bought much but whenever I've been in stores looking I'm always way more drawn to the adorable little boy outfits than anything for girls.  
@ShadeofGreen816 I don't have any experience with that but I'm sorry you're in pain!  
@clebl24 I totlaly feel your pain.  My last pregnancy MH didn't do anything for me for Mother's Day (actually it turns out he had ordered flowers but they didn't arrive until late morning).  I was hormonal and SO emotional about it.  I probably didn't handle it as well as I could have.  I agree with @Jen_Shoes that it is probably better to bring it up and just let him know how you felt in a calm way.  I also don't think it's a cop out to say something like "I am probably reacting to this a bit differently than I would if I weren't pregnant right now" just to let him know that you may be more sensitive right now.  Good luck.
@kat81 I'm with you, that's super annoying.

I'm at a lovely coffee shop right now doing some work before chemo #2 in a few hours.  I'm hopeful this will go as well as the first one in large part because our dresser/changing table is arriving tomorrow and I am really hoping I have the energy to do some serious organizing of baby clothes once it gets here.  I may not be around as much over the next few days but I'll certainly be lurking.  I hope everyone has a good Valentine's Day!

nda_roxybabe

Thanks Team Green Moms! My shower is in a few weeks so I'll just see what I get and if I feel like I need a few newborn things I'll pick some up.

We're not big on framed photos in our house either. We have 1 of us from our wedding, though we do plan to get 1 more, but that's it. I'd like the maternity for myself and H and then I think we'd likely hang one newborn photo up.

achays11

Good luck today @RainyDays86! 

nda_roxybabe

@RainyDays86 Good luck! xoxo

psherman42wwsa

@rainydays86 hope everything goes smoothly for you today!!

Kipperoo

@RainyDays86 , good luck with your treatment!! I hope it's as "easy" as your first!! 

Add me to the list of people that prefers boy clothes to girl clothes! I think 90% of girl clothes are just terrible--too cutesy, ruffle-y, flimsy, and glittery. I love little boy clothes because they tend to be a little more generic (although there are still too many truck and super hero items for my personal taste). But that said, I've found some pretty cute stuff for baby girl on the way....it just requires a bit more digging.

@nda_roxybabe, I I second that you likely won't get a ton of clothes at your shower. OR you will get a bunch that you don't really like. If you aren't super picky about what you put your baby in, you'll be able to use whatever you get. But most of the stuff that was gifted to me for my son was not stuff I would have ever bought personally. And I second what someone said (I think @kat81) about likely needing to pick up newborn sized clothing. My son was born at 37 weeks and NONE of the 0-3 month stuff fit for at least 6 weeks. I guess before he arrived, I thought 0-3 literally meant he would be able to wear it starting at 0 months, but that just wasn't the case. We had to run out to Babys R Us after he was born and basically buy all of the newborn stuff we could find and I wasn't very happy about it. 

starphish18

@clebl24 In my normal non-pregnant life, I wouldn't say anything. I'd just end up bottling it up and sulking for a few days until I dropped it. Not the healthiest option, I know. However, right now, my hormones are making me incredibly emotional and (apparently) more blunt. I'd say something. Like one of the other ladies said, I'd mention that I may be blowing it out of proportion more because of how I'm feeling, but that it still hurt my feelings that no effort was made. This is definitely a time where I personally want to feel taken care of more than I have in the past. I'm a pretty independent person. But right now, I feel like I'm in a fragile state, and I think it's important for our SOs to understand that.

ChristinaWild

@kns1988 - we've had a string of worries that have come up this pregnancy, and one of them was that she is measuring on level II ultrasounds about 14-18 days behind (depending on the body part). We've gotten the thumbs up that she's likely just a little small, and not to worry. I wouldn't be too concerned about a week behind with a tape measure! Baby just might be in a different position right now, and could be throwing off the measurements!!  

@ShadeofGreen816 - I'd like to throw my hat into the chiropractor ring with others who have mentioned it. It's helped me a lot, and I can tell when I go too long between adjustments. Also, there are some really good hip opener yoga poses you can try. I SUCK at yoga (I can not shut my brain off long enough to focus on it), but I've been putting aside about 15-20 minutes a couple of times of week to stretch out my hips and lower back, and it's made a huge difference!

@RainyDays86 - good luck with round 2!!!

RainyDays86

Pre-chemo labs went well. She said I'm "super hydrated" and my blood work looks good. I saw the Nurse Practitioner who didn't see me before but based on the description that was in my chart from three week ago she agreed with what I suspected that the tumor has become much less pronounced. The lymph node was also much smaller/back to normal!

jayandaplus

Good news @RainyDays86! I hope the rest of your day and those following this chemo round go just as well as last time.

@nda_roxybabe Do you have a registry? You can always add a few gender neutral clothing items on the registry so people have an idea. I will also second what someone else said (sorry I don't remember who now) about people buying tons of clothes once the baby is born. My friends were team green and after the baby was born we bought tons of clothes because we just couldn't help ourselves. So did family members.

I've noticed I'm very cranky, grumpy, prone to having my feelings hurt, easily offended, and a generally angry pregnant lady. None of this is me normally. I'm usually the opposite, rarely offended, easily pleased, always love everyone and give the benefit of the doubt. I'm chalking it up to hormones, because it's been most of this pregnancy, but it's worrying me that I'll get stuck as a grumpy mom. Anyone else have personality changes during pregnancy?

nda_roxybabe

@jayandaplus I do have a registry. I have a few clothing items on there like some kimono style onesies, a variety size pack of snap onesies, and some gowns.

In regards to personality change, I am sure it's just the hormones! I'm a cancer so I'm moody/ emotional always, but pregnancy exasperates it some days. I've been mostly happy, but there's days (like today!) where I'm taking everything personally and just want to cry. Totally the hormones.

mdlorenz

Good to hear @RainyDays86

livin541

@RainyDays86 glad to hear the positive updates. Hope today goes well for you! 

I totally agree with the moodiness. I'm generally fairly happy and positive, but the last week or two I'm overly emotional, everything gets to me, and I've been very short-tempered.  I hate feeling that way and having such a hard time getting out of the funk. This week I've bee trying to exercise and write down 3 gratitudes daily. As cheesy as that sounds, I know getting my brain in a better place is the first step! 

WombThereItIs

@nda_roxybabe I think it was you that wanted a PBK rocker/glider but kept getting stuck with everything except furniture being discounted? I just got a 20% off with no exclusions code (probably because I just spent a fortune on furniture myself) and I can PM it to you, not sure if it will work for you but it is worth a try. Let me know.

kns1988

jayandaplus, I've been having some crazy mood swings the past few weeks, and I'm chalking it up to hormones. I started off the day in a great mood, and by the time I got home, I was feeling sad for no reason. I'm trying to break out of my funk. I also cry at the drop of a hat lately, and I'm usually not a crier. 

ETA: edited my post because I realized I was body-shaming myself and I don't want to spread that negativity around.