2nd Trimester check-in w/o Nov 5th

mayflower513

Happy November!  This is a weekly check in for the mamas who have made it to the 2nd trimester!!! If you are in weeks 14-27, feel free to join in on the weekly fun. 

• How far along? EDD?
• How are you everyone feeling this week? 
• Rants/Raves/Questions?
• Any upcoming appointments? 
• GTKY:  What are your plans for work/childcare?
• Feel free to share a HDBD pic!

***I don’t think I saw anyone volunteer to take this over last week but this is now my last week in 2nd tri — any takers on being the new leader starting next week?***

Mommies to be:

@LynnNJ 2/2 BOY!

@mayflower513 2/4 BOY!

@darkstar42 2/13 BOY!

@More14 2/17 GIRL!

@JamieH2000 2/20 BOY!

@halips 2/24 BOY!

@Drove2u 3/23 BOY!

@kristimh80 3/28 GIRL!

@uterusdreams 3/29 GIRL!

@scikap 4/2 BOY!

@madasm0530 4/20 BOY!

Please, also let me know if I can add any updates to the list, and include your EDD if it's your first time posting here! ❤❤❤

mayflower513

• How far along? 27 weeks

• How are you feeling this week?  Actually feeling pretty good.  I basically have a good nights sleep followed by a couple of crappy nights and the cycle continues.

• Rants/Raves/Questions?  None today.   I can’t believe this is my last week of 2nd tri!

• Any upcoming appointments?  I have biweekly appointments now, so Doppler appt next Thursday.

• GTKY:  What is everyone planning on for work/childcare after baby comes?  I’ve been working MWF 9-3 since I had my son, and my parents/in-laws watched him until 18 months where we’ve slowly worked our way up to him going 5 mornings a week.  I will either do this same with the one or stop working altogether... depending how I feel.  This pregnancy is very different .  The first was natural after only trying for a few months so I’m not sure if that had anything to do with it or if it’s how this pregnancy began or how eventful it’s been overall or that it’s my last pregnancy/kid or WHAT, but I’m already struggling with the idea of not being home.  Maybe it’ll change once he’s here, we’ll see!

• Feel free to share a bump pic! 

scikap

How far along? EDD?
19 weeks (April 1)

How are you everyone feeling this week? 
Good. A lot of stretching/pinching/pulling feelings but nothing too uncomfortable.

Rants/Raves/Questions?
My app told me I'm halfway through this pregnancy. What the heck where did the time go! DH an I went to our local baby store this weekend to start looking at strollers, car seats, etc. We were totally overwhelmed but it was fun and good to start looking and thinking about some of those larger purchases we're going to be making. 

Any upcoming appointments? 
anatomy scan this Wed!!

GTKY:  What are your plans for work/childcare?
I get a year of mat leave, so I'll be home for that time and then I plan to go back to work full time afterwards. Time to get on some daycare lists!

halips

• How far along? EDD? 24w3d
• How are you everyone feeling this week? Pretty good, just still having sleep issues. Its not my hips really, more my muscles in my thigh and glut that go numb and ache after an hour or so on each side. 
• Rants/Raves/Questions? Anyone else planning to take free courses through the hospital? We just signed up for the tour, breathing and relaxation for natural birth and a newborn care (DH is really nervous, he has no experience with babies lol)
• Any upcoming appointments? MFM on Nov 12. Just saw OB on Saturday, super quick appt and they gave me my glucola for my test 1hr on Nov 20. 
• GTKY:  What are your plans for work/childcare? I will take the 12 weeks of FMLA and then go back to work. I'm not keen on it yet, but we don't really have any other choice as of now. Hoping a local woman I know will have a spot open in her home daycare. 
• Feel free to share a HDBD pic!

@mayflower513 congrats on moving to 3rd tri!! 

@scikap first, so jealous of your 1 yr mat leave! Good luck on you A/S this week!

mayflower513

@scikap good luck on your AS and 1 year maternity leave is AMAZING!  So jealous!!

@halips thank you  I may do a breastfeeding course but not sure yet.  Last time all I did was the tour, so I won’t do it again but would recommend it if its a new hospital or first baby!  Although I still don’t know my way around in there!

kristimh80

How far along? EDD? 19w4d

How are you everyone feeling this week? Feeling good. Did a lot of running around on Saturday that reminded me I need to chill out more. Have enjoyed the time change, as I feel like I've been finally getting decent sleep.

Rants/Raves/Questions? Happy to see baby last week. So far, she's a feisty one! She loves to push when my dog is on my lap or if sitting a certain way she doesn't like. I was surprised to know at the AS how far she stretches out. In my mind, she was in this little round section at the bottom. 

Any upcoming appointments? Had my Anatomy Scan on Thursday and reg OB appt Friday. Baby was wild, so doing a 2nd Anatomy Scan on the 19th to see if she'll cooperate so we can see her heart better. 

GTKY:  What are your plans for work/childcare? For the first few months, I'm planning on staying at home. I plan to maybe go back to work eventually 1-2 days a week just to get out fo the house for my own sanity and have my mom watch her. Eventually when she's a little older look into daycares for some social interaction.

@mayflower513 So sad you'll be leaving us soon! But excited for you!!
@scikap Hope you have a great AS! They are so much fun to see the LO moving around so much!
@halips I'm planning on doing the CPR and breast feeding courses thru the hospital. May do more if have time. As a FTM, I feel so clueless!

halips

@kristimh80 so glad your A/S went well. Hopefully little girl cooperates for the follow up! 

uterusdreams

• How far along? EDD? 19 weeks, 3 days today. EDD still March 29!
• How are you everyone feeling this week? Feeling pretty good overall! 
• Rants/Raves/Questions? Rave: I got my pregnancy pillow on Friday and finally used it last night and OMG either I just happened to have a good hip night or this is life-changing. SO happy with it! Another rave: one of my good friends brought me 3 bins full of maternity clothes and most of them fit (she's a bit smaller than me so I wasn't sure it would work out). No real rants this week. And I keep thinking of questions and then forgetting by the time I post - I should really start keeping a list!
• Any upcoming appointments? OB appointment tonight. I'm not sure what it will entail since I had my anatomy scan at the MFM last week - hoping tonight is pretty quick. 
• GTKY:  What are your plans for work/childcare? I work full time, so right now my plan is to take somewhere bewteen 8-12 weeks off for leave. My boss suggested that I transition back by working from home toward the end of my "leave" (which I will probably do because I don't have enough sick or vacation time saved up to take a full 12 weeks paid) and I'm REALLY happy he suggested that. Thankfully my job is pretty doable from home so it should work out okay. But once I'm back in the office full-time... not sure on childcare yet. My neighbor has a nannyshare at her house so I am going to ask about the cost of that and if she'd be up for taking on a new baby a few days a week (since I know one of the current kids will be in full-day kindergarten starting next fall) - and hopefully my parents could come babysit 2 days a week (They used to do the same for my 7 y/o). But really nothing is figured out yet, eek.
• Feel free to share a HDBD pic!

@scikap So jealous of that 1 year leave!! But still I love that it exists as an option for people (just not here ha).  
@halips We did the childbirth class with my 7 y/o, I'm not sure if we'll do one again. I do plan to take a tour at the hospital since it's a different one from last time. I want to take a CPR class (infant/child) again soon so thank you for posting about that!
@mayflower513 Time is going so quickly, woo hoo 3rd tri!!
@kristimh80 Fingers crossed for a good follow up a/s on the 19th!

darkstar42

@mayflower513 How exciting to be almost to third tri! And I hear you on the crappy sleep nights.

@scikap Sounds like you and YH had fun shopping! We’re just starting to buy things and put a list together, and it’s super overwhelming! I’m jealous that you get a full year of leave. That’s so awesome.

@halips MH and I are thinking of doing a newborn care class through a hospital. We just started a childbirth class through a local organization, so it was fun to go to the first day of that.

@kristimh80 I’m jealous of your good sleep! I’m glad you got to see your LO at the scan, even if she was moving around too much to get good images!

@uterusdreams What kind of pillow did you get? I’ve been debating whether or not to buy one.

darkstar42

• How far along? EDD? 25w5d, EDD 2/13
  
  
• How are you feeling this week? Feeling pretty good! Still some discomfort with sleeping - mainly SI joints and hip pain. I was sleeping great last night until the cat went crazy an hour too early. If only we could reset pets with the time change! I've also been feeling lots of movement, which has been wonderful.
  
  
• Rants/Raves/Questions? We went to our first childbirth class yesterday, which was pretty cool. It's hard to believe that I'm finally at this point! We also got a dresser for the baby's room. It's a bit long, but the right height to put a changing pad and all of that on.
  
  
• Any upcoming appointments? No midwife appointment until the 16th, but I have a prenatal massage on Wednesday! I'm so excited about it!
  
  
• GTKY:  What are your plans for work/childcare? I'm a professor, so I'm taking off the spring semester. Combined with summer, I'll get about 7 months total. MH teaches as well, so he's taking a month when the baby arrives, and then he'll have summer as well. We'll start up daycare in September, so we need to start doing our research and getting on waiting lists soon!
  

JamieH2000

@mayflower513- yay for third tri! So exciting to get there, but we will miss you! I will only be a few weeks behind you

@scikap- starting to shop and register was so fun! But there is so much to research! 

@halips- our classes are $40 each at our hospital, but we are doing the labor/delivery one with a tour and also a newborn one. I was on the fence about a breastfeeding one since I think it may be easier to learn when the baby is here? I plan to attend the weekly new mom breast feeding/ meet ups that the hospital has. I believe a lac consultant comes to them.

@kristimh80- I know what you mean about feeing like you over due it sometimes! Take it easy girl! But that is exciting you get a sexond scan soon!

@uterusdreams- glad the preggo pillow is helping! Gives me hope! I am borrowing my friends this week hopefully!

@darkstar- glad you found the child birth class useful! I debated taking it in the next few weeks but was worried i would forget by Feb. so now our classes aren’t until mid Jan since thanksgiving to Christmas is so busy and the classes stop from mid dec to mid Jan. as long as I make it to 35 weeks I will get them in!

JamieH2000

Bear with me on the formatting. I am on mobile in the ft lauderdale airport since we are traveling home from our babymoon in the keys! Weather was awesome and just nice to spend some quality time and think about how different things will be in a few months! For a while, I never thought we would get here, so it was very special!

How far? I will be 25 weeks on wed!

How am I feeling? Pretty good except starting to feel bigger and still peeing every two hours at night. But so far it’s been good. I still worry at the aches and pains and terrified of premature labor (for no real reason) but that’s probably normal after everything we have all gone through.

RRQ?- nothing really besides my babymoon hard to come back to reality, but glad thanksgiving is already in 2.5 wwwks!

Upcoming appts? Yes- tomorrow is my 24 week check in a week late. Not expecting much besides a Doppler and getting my drink for the gluclose test at 28 weeks.

GTKY-  I am fortunate that my company offers 12 weeks paid and up to 12 weeks unpaid after that, so I will be taking 24 weeks, plus two weeks of vacation. I feel so blessed to get to be home for 6 months and especially thru summer with this little one!

kristimh80

@uterusdreams Aren't pregnancy pillows amazing?! I don't know how I could sleep without one now.
@darkstar42 I feel you on the pet thing! Mine are a hot mess way before I'm ready for them to be as well. Glad you childbirth class went well! I think that's when it'll really hit me! lol

kristimh80

@JamieH2000 Your baby moon sounds amazing!! Glad you guys had a great time!

uterusdreams

@darkstar42 - I got this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KIQH2VU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 

BUT, it felt flatter last night and my hip hurt again when I woke up in the middle of the night - so I don't know if last night I just didn't have it in the right spot or if it's not great. I will keep you all posted, I'm going to be really disappointed if it's flat after only a few uses! Ugh.

kristimh80

@uterusdreams Sad to hear that! Hopefully you can still return it. I have the Boppy maternity pillow and really like it. The part along your back is flat then the 2 sides are supportive. So far, haven't had any issues with it. Just a thought in case you wanna try something else. It's this one for reference https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N3Y3848/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

mayflower513

HDBD!  

uterusdreams

Thanks, @kristimh80 - I think I'll give it another day or two and see how it is. I appreciate you sharing the Boppy pillow! 

@mayflower513 you are adorable! 

kristimh80

@mayflower513 You're so cute!!  

mayflower513

Thank you @uterusdreams @kristimh80.

Here’s a different kind of HDBD pic.  Baby boy likes to move down low which creates a kind of “shelf”.  So weird.  This never happened last pregnancy!  

kristimh80

@mayflower513 Awe it's like he has his only little cocoon I feel like my little girl stretches out all the way under my ribs. I wish she'd stay down low and look like a cute bump like you! 

more14

• How far along? 25+3
  
• How are you everyone feeling this week? OK. A little winded when going up the stairs (townhouse... I can't wait to move out of here!), but otherwise I think I'm doing pretty well. I had some braxton hicks last Saturday and it caught me by surprise because I completely forgot about them but it's a good sign my body is starting to prepare itself (and a reminder to drink more water )
  
• Rants/Raves/Questions? Rant: I had my 3hours glucose tolerance on Monday and it was the most difficult thing I've had to do in both pregnancies. Not eating for 12 hours and then drinking that orange abomination made me nauseous to the point I had to lay down for a few minutes. Also, having my arms pricked 4 times (one for each hour) was very unpleasant. By the end of the 3 hours I was so hungry and thirsty I was exhausted. Hands down this is the test I hate the most. I'm extremely happy I can put it behind me and never go through it again. Rave: My lunch that day was delicious (partly because I was so hungry ) but also because you can't go wrong with shrimp wrapped in bacon.
  
• Any upcoming appointments? Nothing for the next 2 weeks!
  
• GTKY:  What are your plans for work/childcare? I'm a freelancer so I will do what I did with the boys - take a few months off, then work part time until I feel I need more space and then I'll do daycare a few days a week for a few months, then switch to full week. It worked really well with the boys and I'm lucky enough my husband makes enough for me to not work for as long as I need.
  

@mayflower513 nice pictures! I can't believe this is already your last week of 2nd tri! Congratulations!

@scikap Congratulations on reaching the half point! It goes by so fast! How did your AS go? It's so exciting, going to stores and looking at all the stuff, who knew there were so many things and so many options! I highly suggest making a list of exactly what you want and buying whatever you can on Black Friday/Cyber Monday. We got some amazing deals on a lot of our baby stuff, and we needed everything double so we saved a lot.

@halips I did CPR, Birth and Postpartum for multiples and a breastfeeding class. I recommend everyone take CPR, I can't even count the number of times it came handy.

@darkstar42 How did your massage go? I need to schedule one, I remember they were really good for my back last time so hoping this time will be the same, especially during third trimester.

@JamieH2000 I hear you on the fear of premature labor. I have no reason to even think about it but it's still in the back of my mind all the time.

darkstar42

@more14 The massage was glorious! I nearly fell asleep. The 3 hour glucose test sounds miserable, but hopefully your results are good!

mayflower513

@more14 I’m sorry the 3 hour test was miserable!  FX for good results!

@kristimh80 down low doesn’t feel so great, either!  But since his feet are down the kicks down low are probably more pleasant than kicks to the ribs

@JamieH2000 I’m so jealous of your baby moon!  And of your massage @darkstar42!

scikap

Anatomy scan was so much fun! And we are having a BOY! 

I'm amazed at how much territory baby can cover - the u/s tech spend the whole time trying to chase him around

@kristimh80 mine is also sitting under my ribs a lot, so so far I feel like I'm expanding all around my middle instead of having a nice bump. 

kristimh80

@scikap Awe congrats on having a little boy!! Good to hear you had fun! I was amazed too...I had no idea this early that they could stretch so far. 

@more14 You poor thing! Glad you got thru the miserable glucose test. I think that's the only thing during pregnancy that I dread the most!

halips

@uterusdreams so happy your pillow is working for you! and free maternity clothes is awesome!
@darkstar42 I hope your prenatal massage was amazing!!
@mayflower513 your bump pics are adorable!!
@more14 I'm glad your 3hr test is done, but how miserable! Bacon wrapped shrimp sounds amazing!  I'm actually a certified CPR instructor through work, so I just brought home infant and child dolls for me to teach DH on.But I also would recommend everyone know the basics!
@JamieH2000 your babymoon sounds lovely! I'm glad you had a great time and good weather! i agree on the breastfeeding. I have a book on it, but plan to work with a lactation specialist once baby is here. 

mbradfo2

@more14
I'm glad your 3 hr is over! It's horrible, isn't it? Did you get your results yet? I never got a call; my OB just said everything was fine at my next appt which was a week or two later.

@JamieH2000
I'm glad the Keys were lovely for you! We were up in Orlando last week and the weather was so hot....

@scikap
A boy!! Yay!!
I also starting getting "rib spread" around the end of the 2nd tri/beginning of 3rd tri -- it felt like my ribs were just moving out and out and out. I guess baby liked hanging out there. 

I've been thinking about doing an infant CPR class now actually, especially since we want to start giving finger foods in a few months and that freaks me out. I hope I won't be the only not-pregnant mom in it >.> 

mayflower513

8 boys 3 girls in here - congrats @scikap!

halips

@scikap congrats on a baby boy!!

JamieH2000

@mayflower513- you just have the most adorable bump!! I love it!!

@scikap- congrats on the BOY!! Lots of boys in here! I also have felt alot of rib/back pain! I just don't think they stretch out as easily! Mine has gotten some better in the past 2 weeks, so hopefully yours will too!

@halips- thanks! I hope breastfeeding comes easily to both of us I am still trying to figure out which pump i can/should get.

@mbradfo2- the keys were mid 80s, so i had to be in the water or in the shade for sure!

@more14- the 3 hour test sounds terrible! I am crossing everything I pass my 1 hour one in a few weeks!

Anyone else have trips/babymoons coming up?

kristimh80

@JamieH2000 I need to plan mine. I was goofing off at work earlier googling places again. MH is going to Cabo for a bachelor trip mid-Feb...so now all over the place trying to figure it out!

halips

@JamieH2000 If it helps....every breastfeeding mom I have talked to recently (about 9 of them lol) has recommended the Spectra S1 or S2.  S1 has a built in rechargeable battery, that's the main difference. My insurance offered the S2 for free so I got it. My SIL has it too, but she also got a haakaa to catch what she loses from the other breast while feeding. So I plan to pick one of those up too, they are really cheap.

mayflower513

@JamieH2000 I’ve also asked moms and every one has recommended the spectra as well

mtpbadger

Lurking....I have the spectra (had to pay out of pocket as my insurance only offered an ameda) and it was worth every penny. When the LC I saw said it’s the new go to and all her fellow LCs use them for themselves. I have the S2 and bought a car adapter so can still pump on the go and not have to worry if the batteries are going. 

JamieH2000

@kristimh80- keep us posted once you figure out what you are doing!! 

@halips, @mayflower513, @mtpbadger- Thanks for the feedback ladies! I was leaning towards the Spectra based on reviews, so that is great to hear! Now I just have to figure out what insurance covers