Wednesday Ticker Change 9/27

RachelR17

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 

2. How are you feeling? 

3. Any appointments coming up? 

4. Rants, raves, questions? 

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order?

RachelR17

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 
18 weeks

2. How are you feeling? 
feeling good I need to stop craving sweets though! 

3. Any appointments coming up? 
Not till oct 10 for my AS 

4. Rants, raves, questions? 
so my prepregnancy weight is higher with this baby than my first. I don’t know if it’s that I already had a belly before getting pregnant or what but I still don’t feel like I look pregnant or that the bump is growing. I also haven’t felt the baby move yet! (I know it’s still early) Im starting to worry that something is wrong...even though I went last week and heard the heart beat! I’m just beyond ready to have another ultrasound so I know for sure that everything is okay! Sorry...rant over! 

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order?
I have one sister. I am the oldest and she was born when I was 3! 

psm2462

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 

20 weeks, baby is the size of a banana.  Like others, I find this comparison to be absurd since a baby in the fetal position isn't shaped like a banana!

2. How are you feeling? 

Still remarkably good, other than the usual suspects (have to pee all the time, getting tired more easily, etc).

3. Any appointments coming up? 

Regular appointment tomorrow, have zero questions for my doctor so it should be a quick one.  NOT excited to look at the scale... then follow-up ultrasound next week.

4. Rants, raves, questions? 

Rave is that I'm happy to be cruising through this pregnancy, it's going by so much faster than my first.  Rant is that I can't believe how soon (relatively speaking) this baby will be here! Starting to get worried about how quickly the next few months will go with the holidays...

QUESTION: At what point do doctors get concerned about weight gain? At the beginning of this pregnancy, my doctor said to "do whatever I did last time" since I gained within the recommended range.  I'm doing everything the same, but my body is not -- I've gained way more than I had with DS1 at this point.  I'm anxious about her mentioning anything, because there is very little I could change.  I'm eating well (most of the time, still giving into cravings here and there) and staying active.  Anyone else in this camp?

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order?

I'm the younger of two, with an older brother, and two step-siblings (one older, one younger).

karcerplus3

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 
21 weeks, bottle of Jagermeister (or an endive)

2. How are you feeling? 
Good. Still getting recovering from the stomach bug. Baby boy sucked all my energy out of me so I'm still trying to get back to my "old self". 

3. Any appointments coming up? 
Oct 9th, my monthly

4. Rants, raves, questions? 
Weve pretty much decided that I'm going to stay at home for a while after the baby is born. Financially we can't have all three kids in DC/after school care at the same time.  Plus with summer, if I'm home, none of the kids will have to be in camps or whatever so that'll be a huge savings. The issue is I haven't told work because I want to make sure I get my 6 weeks STD, but I feel really bad not letting my team know because I'm going to be leaving them with my workload until they can find a replacement. I know I've got a while to figure this out but it's going to stress me out until I finally say something. 

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order?
One younger sister.  We are about 3.5 yrs apart. 

precious88

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 
18 weeks, sweet potato

2. How are you feeling? 
@RachelR17 I am also in the craving sweets boat.

3. Any appointments coming up? 
Tomorrow we have an anatomy scan with a maternal/fetal med. specialist. I have a congenital heart condition so basically it's a higher resolution scan and they can see small organs, like heart chambers, more clearly for issues that can be passed down. It's my second pg, I was really stressed about this last time but this time not so much, maybe because I've been here before. Trying to focus on the exciting fact that we will find out if baby is a boy or girl! Assuming baby cooperates, of course.

4. Rants, raves, questions? 
Just ready to see our baby and find out if we'll be team pink or blue! That's when it all really started feeling real last pg.

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order?

Older brother, me, younger sister. I'm two years apart from both of them. DD will be about 2 years older than this baby, and I'm definitely excited about that similarity

RachelR17

@precious88 I went to get popcorn at the grocery store and it was in the same aisle as candy and cookies...I shouldn’t be trusted to shop for food!

good luck tomorrow at your AS!!!  we had one of those higher resolution scans with my first! It’s crazy how much detail they can see in something so itty bitty! 

precious88

karcerplus3 said:

4. Rants, raves, questions? 
Weve pretty much decided that I'm going to stay at home for a while after the baby is born. Financially we can't have all three kids in DC/after school care at the same time.  Plus with summer, if I'm home, none of the kids will have to be in camps or whatever so that'll be a huge savings. The issue is I haven't told work because I want to make sure I get my 6 weeks STD, but I feel really bad not letting my team know because I'm going to be leaving them with my workload until they can find a replacement. I know I've got a while to figure this out but it's going to stress me out until I finally say something. 

During my first pg, I was also pretty sure I was staying home after baby was born and didn't tell my employer so I could get the STD pay (I ended up with a c/s, and also used up all of my PTO and sick time, so I actually ended up with almost all 12 weeks of maternity leave being paid). Even though I knew I wanted to stay home, I also wanted to have the option to go back in case anything happened to DH's job and we really needed the income. I understand the conflicting feelings, as I really loved my job and my co-workers and felt guilty about leaving them with the workload. I worked really closely with my temp. replacement who was covering my maternity leave before I left so I was confident she could handle it. I gave them notice 3 weeks before I was due to come back. They were actually really understanding, and promoted the girl who covered my maternity leave to the position full time, which she was so grateful for. They also arranged for me to continue my work part time, so it actually all worked out for the best for everyone.

Just remember that it's not personal, it's business, and at the end of the day no matter how much you all like each other if they ran into a financial crisis they'd let you go if they had to. That's a mindset I learned from my father, who was let go from his job of 20 years stripped of all his saved up benefits during the recession. It helped me a lot when I was facing this same struggle.

RachelR17

karcerplus3 said:

Weve pretty much decided that I'm going to stay at home for a while after the baby is born. Financially we can't have all three kids in DC/after school care at the same time.  Plus with summer, if I'm home, none of the kids will have to be in camps or whatever so that'll be a huge savings. The issue is I haven't told work because I want to make sure I get my 6 weeks STD, but I feel really bad not letting my team know because I'm going to be leaving them with my workload until they can find a replacement. I know I've got a while to figure this out but it's going to stress me out until I finally say something. 

I was a classroom teacher and I was 99.9999% sure I was going to stay at home after my first was born. I had my daughter February 2nd and I told my principal that I was going to take the rest of the school year. That way I got my 6 weeks STD then the rest of the year no pay. After my 6 weeks were over I went in and talked to my principal and told her I wasn’t coming back for the next school year. 

Like @precious88 said it’s business...you have to do what is right for your family! 

MrsJ2410

@karcerplus3 I am in the same boat, I am not planning on going back to work, and have not told anyone. I was told by the one coworker I told NOT to say anything until I'm in my maternity leave, and have heard that from other people and HR people as well. I am worried because while I am pretty much just an exec assistant, I handle a TON of complicated legal billing and need to train whoever takes my place. I assumed I could train a temp, but my boss has insisted that someone in accounting take over while I am out, which is not a sustainable solution. But I also keep reminding myself of what everyone said above, its business, do whats right for you and your family, etc. etc. 

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 
21 weeks, endive I think? 
2. How are you feeling? 
Pretty good, just huge and uncomfortable, which is terrible because I am just going to get huger. 
3. Any appointments coming up? 
nothing for a couple of weeks. 
4. Rants, raves, questions? 
I am so frustrated/ anxious about my body, but I think its just because I need the weather to change so I can start wearing maternity pants and sweaters and stuff. I don't have a ton of hot weather stuff and its stressing me out. 
5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order? I have a younger sister who is 3.5 years younger. 

karcerplus3

@precious88 @RachelR17. - you guys are right, it's just business and I need to keep telling myself that. 

@MrsJ2410 - I'm think I'm going to wait until the very last minute too. I need the pay and I'm going to take advantage of them as much as possible. 

chucksmom15

I am craving sweets too @RachelR17 and @precious88.  I bought a family size bag of peanut butter M&Ms and I am very excited about it.

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby?  21 weeks!  Baby is an endive.  These fruits and vegetables are getting absurd.

2. How are you feeling?  The usual.  Tired, hungry, tired some more....

3. Any appointments coming up?  Not until mid October but we did register for some classes at our hospital.  When DH said he thought I could just pump once a day and didn't know why I had to feed/ pump every couple of hours I knew the breastfeeding class was a must.  I don't know much but he is totaly in the dark.  It is for couples and they have a part about how partners can support moms.

4. Rants, raves, questions?  I am ready for a real kick already!!!  He is fluttering away in there and I think I've gotten a couple of real kicks but not sure.  DH wants to feel a kick so bad.  

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order? I have 4 brothers and I am the baby.  Most people say oh you must be spoiled but they actually screwed with me a lot as a kid lol.

precious88

chucksmom15 said:

3. Any appointments coming up?  Not until mid October but we did register for some classes at our hospital.  When DH said he thought I could just pump once a day and didn't know why I had to feed/ pump every couple of hours I knew the breastfeeding class was a must.  I don't know much but he is totaly in the dark.  It is for couples and they have a part about how partners can support moms.

Oh my god... I'm dying over what your husband said.   Men... bless their clueless little hearts lol.

chucksmom15

I have to give him credit though @precious88 when I started explaining what little I know he agreed that we need to take classes.  He is eager to learn and signed us up for classes on football days.  We are taking a class called ABC of baby too.  It goes over the basics (diapers, bottles, etc.) but it also covers postpartum care for me.  It's very sweet that he is excited about the classes.

jenniferjoy37

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 
20 weeks. Baby is the size of a banana or a paper airplane.

2. How are you feeling? 
I've been feeling great lately. Finally beginning to feel like I'm pregnant. 

3. Any appointments coming up? 
Just had my AS today. Baby looks healthy and is kicking hardcore in there (even though I don't recognize when she does it ) 

4. Rants, raves, questions? 
Buying maternity clothes sucks, but wearing anything else is sooo uncomorrable! I feel like I'm spending a small fortune on dressing myself right now. I need to find a second hand store... 

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order?
I have one younger brother, it's just the two of us. We're 18 months apart. Growing up was tough, but as we got older things are getting better. 

Bonus:  My US tech rocks, he gave us extra snapshots of our little one.  

lucylou214

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 20 weeks and halfway there today! Baby is the size of a banana. 

2. How are you feeling? I'm feeling good.  I am still more tired than my "usual" self, but I am also busy right now with teaching, grad school, etc., so it might also be that?  Thankfully, the shooting/stabbing pain issue from last week has passed!  I'm continuing to feel more and more pregnant, and people at work are commenting (in a nice way) about my growing bump!  I'm a FTM, so it's all new for me.  I agree with you, @MrsJ2410 , I need the weather to cool off, because I have hardly any work clothes for 90* weather! 

3. Any appointments coming up? We had both a regular appt. and the anatomy scan on Monday.  Everything looked great, and we found out that we are having a baby GIRL!  I am over the moon excited. I keep pinching myself! 

4. Rants, raves, questions?  I've been working on my registry, which is SO overwhelming!  I feel like there are just so many options for every single thing.  

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order? I'm the oldest, and have a younger sister who is 3 and a half years younger.  I am so grateful for her, and our relationship, as cheesy as that sounds. 

jenniferjoy37

@lucylou214 You started your registry?! I feel so behind!! And congrats on the girl! 

winnie1122

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 
19 weeks, mango

2. How are you feeling? 
Not pregnant, which is weird. I know it’s the calm before the storm though, my short break between 1st tri morning sickness misery and 3rd tri general misery haha. So I’m going to enjoy feeling good as long as it lasts!


3. Any appointments coming up? 
AS next week!

4. Rants, raves, questions? 
Health insurance is my current rant, as in we have none and can’t get any currently so it’s stressful. We’ve been working on a solution since the day after finding out I was pregnant and STILL have nothing. Ugh ugh ugh. Just praying we can get ourselves some sort of coverage before delivery....I saw the pre-insurance cost on our hospital bill from delivering DS last summer and I really don’t want that kind of debt. Eep. (Long story short DH has insurance through his grad school for himself but we can’t afford to put me or DS on his plan. I’m self-employed so I can work at home and not pay for daycare. We missed the boat on the Marketplace last year after I quit my full time job to stay home and here we are.) Health insurance is one big (not funny) joke.

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order?
Two brothers, I’m the middle. DH is the same, his brothers are about the same age as my brothers too. So no blood related aunts for my kids! But I love my sisters in law so it’s cool. 

lucylou214

jenniferjoy37 said:

@lucylou214 You started your registry?! I feel so behind!! And congrats on the girl! 

Thank you!  I keep pinching myself, I am so exctied!

As for my registry, yes, I did- my shower is going to be around Thanksgiving (which is a little early, but December is crazy, and then the weather can be unpredictable, here in January, plus I will have a school break around Christmas which I can use to wash the clothes, put everything away, etc.)  I am a teacher, so I had some time this summer to start it, and now I am working on editing it down, and taking off the 'boy' option if I had two of something.  

I am trying to get my pink and floral fix with small and inexpensive items (burp cloths, bibs, crib sheets, etc.) that I won't mind replacing down the road if we have another baby, and it's a boy.  I'm sticking to more aqua, greens, and neutrals for the 'bigger' items that I might not want to repurchase (carseat , pack and play, high chair, etc.)  I am still working on choosing a carseat and stroller system, a soft structured carrier, and a monitor, but I'm getting there.  Don't panic- you have plenty of time!  

chucksmom15

You are way ahead of me @lucylou214 and my shower is November 12th!!  We have a lot of the big stuff picked out but have a lot left to do.  I'm kind of in a panic bc invitations go out in about 2 weeks!!

katefb17

1. How many weeks are you? How big is baby? 
20 weeks, baby is the size of a... banana?! Okay.

2. How are you feeling? 
Good. Very tired by the end of the day. I normally have a sweet tooth anyway, but my sweets consumption (ice cream!! mochas!!! the stash of chocolate I keep in my desk drawer!!!!!) has still gone way, way up. This happened with my first pregnancy, too-- I remember consuming an entire bag of Reeces Peanut Butter cups around Halloween, and an entire chocolate cheesecake at Christmas (neither in one sitting, fwiw). I'm craving salty things, too, but this may be because my family's salt consumption is super low for the sake of DH's blood pressure. 

3. Any appointments coming up? 
We had our anatomy scan last week--- we're having a boy! I'm so, so surprised. I didn't realize how much I had been expecting another girl. 

4. Rants, raves, questions? 
Re: finding out the sex... I'm excited, and glad that we'll have one of each (this is our final), but I'm also a little apprehensive. I have a younger brother, and our relationship has always been less than great. Lately it has bordered on "bad". I always wished I had a little sister (my older stepsister and I are not close, either), and am kind of sad that my daughter won't have one either. She and baby boy (probably) won't have any cousins, since neither of my siblings intends to have kids. So, in other words, I really hope they get along better than my brother and I did, because it will likely just be the two of them.

5. GTKY:How many siblings do you have? Brothers/Sisters? What is your birth order?
One younger brother, 2 years apart. One older stepsister, 5 years apart (since I was 6, so most of my life). I'm not especially close to either of them, and we only see each other once or twice a year. I fought constantly with both growing up. My stepsister and I get along fine now, and if we lived closer might actually hang out together. My brother and I don't really get along-- we stayed with him last Christmas, and it was a total disaster (my daughter cried all night, which made him and his neighbors mad... ugh). Things have never been warm and fuzzy between us, and have definitely not improved since then.

chucksmom15

Just bc you and your brother have one type of relationship doesn't mean that's what will happen to your children @katefb17!  You can nurture any kind of relationship you'd like them to have.  

lucylou214

@chucksmom15 , I have a lot to finish with it, and my shower is the same weekend.  Thankfully, I feel like we don't have to be 100% done right now, but have it 'presentable' to go public when the invites go out.