PAIF for 3/15-3/28

MamaK225

Note: This thread will include discussion of infertility and loss. If these topics are triggering for you, please take care of yourself while reading and posting here.
This thread is for those of us who went through infertility testing and treatments before becoming pregnant. Many of us have had different struggles to get to this place and face different anxiety and concerns now. This thread is for us to support each other, and we hope it will be a safe space. This thread is going to begin being started every 2 weeks, given the reduced traffic. Please feel free to post here at any time during that period, whether for good news or bad. Consider this an ongoing conversation. 
This thread is for those who have experienced infertility. The struggles we discuss may or may not apply to those who became pregnant easily. If you have not experienced infertility, please be considerate and sensitive if you feel the need to post in this thread. 

How far along are you?
Any symptoms?
Rant/Rave?
Next appointment?
Questions?

GTKY: What are you planning to bring - aside from clothing & basic toiletries - in your Hospital Bag? Is there anything unique? Anything you feel is particular vital and are going to double- and triple-check that it's in there?

MamaK225

How far along are you? 18w0d
Any symptoms? Everything has kind of eased up (including anger - yay!), crossing fingers this lasts a while and I can go back to just enjoying being preggo
Rant/Rave? Rant: I know it's because of having to catch up from having week-long training 2-3 weeks ago, but DAMN, I'm waiting for work to slow down a little ... I'm tired of working at 100% AND staying late. Rave: DD1 seems to be warming up to the idea of a baby, though clearly still a bit confused about it all.
Next appointment? 3/29 for 20 wk appt, then to schedule 20-wk U/S with MFM
Questions? Do any of your SO's have strong opinions about names - but they're kind of ridiculous? Growing up with a first & last name that is difficult to spell, I have a penchant for very simple and "mainstream" names ... even if they go by cuter, "different" nicknames. DH is *stuck* on a specific name and I love the thought and meaning behind it, but I would only ever consider it for a middle name. We've downloaded BabyName app, but only agree on 3 names after having it for 5-6 weeks (I have only Liked 15 girl names, so I'm pretty picky, myself)

GTKY: 1. Pillow (the hospital's can go flat easily)
2. BF-friendly cotton dresses
3. White noise machine
4. Bluetooth sleep mask (can listen to audio books or music)
5. Phone chargers
6. Breast pump and all accouterments

wabash15

@mamak225 DH and I have use pretty simple/traditional names with our 3 and I sort of wanted to stick with that this time around. We're actually having a bit of a hard time with names as some of our top boy/girl names we just don't love anymore. We tried the baby name app but only found a few we both liked and hated most of the suggestions... DH just suggested a pretty but much longer/fancier first name for a girl  and though I like it its so much different from what we picked before... so we just keep running over our current top name choices and mulling them over. We didn't pick names till right before birth for any of our kids... it always takes us time to sit with the names and settle on them. I guess its a long way of saying sit with the name for a while and see if it grows on you. You have months still to pick one. 

How far along are you? 18+2
Any symptoms? actually doing pretty well. 
Rant/Rave? we had a ton of rain on top of snow, so everything is flooding... but on the upside its warm enough to rain so spring may actually think about making an appearance
Next appointment? end of the month for MFM, anatomy scan and MW.
Questions? nope...

as for the hospital bag: chapstick, chapstick, chapstick, its amazing how dry your lips get. A bluetooth speaker to play music. other than that I way over packed the last 2 times...  so maybe trying to go for a lighter load this time. 

MamaK225

@wabash15 - I actually brought (and will bring) nipple cream with me in my bag, it doubles GREAT for lip balm/chapstick!   Also, DD1 is Charlotte/Charlie and DH is suggesting Freya for DD2. Love the man with all my might and respect his Nordic heritage, but ... that's a bit "too much" for me. 

wabash15

@mamak225 ohhh nipple cream is a good one... I had forgotten about that.

purplg8r

@MamaK225 I had thought about packing a white noise machine. I guess I just figured I wouldn’t be sleeping much with the nurses being in an out

@wabash15 Did you have the Bluetooth speaker for labor or for after when you guys were in your room? If during labor, did you have a playlist you set in advance?

How far along are you? 17w0d 
Any symptoms? Not much
Rant/Rave? Today is the first day of spring break! However my school is getting painted. That means that we had to move everything in our office is in our classrooms into the middle of the room and nothing can be against the wall. We also have to take everything down off the walls. I needed H to help me so I had to do it all today. So my room looks like a bomb exploded with stuff packed everywhere in the middle of the room. And I can’t get back in until next Sunday, the day before we go back to school. I know I’m not going to be able to unpack everything in one day so it’s going to be disaster with those kiddos get in there on Monday.  I’ve been so stressed about this
Next appointment? Wednesday for my first GD test
Questions?

GTKY: What are you planning to bring - aside from clothing & basic toiletries - in your Hospital Bag? Is there anything unique? Anything you feel is particular vital and are going to double- and triple-check that it's in there? I have no idea!! 

wabash15

@purplg8r it was for when I was in labor... I initially (for the twins) had a "fun" playlist and one that was more mellow... but never used it because I had a C. With DD2 I had a mellow play list that we put together ahead of time, but we ended up listening to one song for 24 hours straight.... it was kind of new age-ish song I had first heard in a yoga class and was 20+ min long but it was just so mellow and soothing it was the only thing I wanted to hear... so repeat it was but it wasn't till the end of my labor that someone asked if it was the same song....  also honestly you don't need a lot in your bag... one or two changes of cloths (maybe something for DH cloths wise) and I just kept the baby in hospital cloths until we left... why start having to do laundry early?!? a pair of slippers or easy slip on shoes is handy. I never read... I brought books both times but was either sleeping, watching TV, feeding/taking care of baby or seeing one of the million people on the hospital staff that pop by.

purplg8r

@wabash15 I was debating calming music vs my running playlist.  I don’t normally like any calming/slow type music at all. But I’m wondering if I’d change my mind and like it then 

cato99

@MamaK225 oooh I personally love Freya. I had a student named Freya a few years ago and she wore it well! 

@purplg8r that is SO annoying that school painting is cutting into your spring break! I mean it’s nice they’re sprucing things up but spring break is such precious time! 

How far along are you? 18w 1d

Any symptoms? Not really. Man I’m just so happy to be out of first trimester I can’t believe it. I’m having some lower back pain from lugging around DD but it’s manageable 

Rant/Rave? Rave! I’ve finally figured out my prenatal yoga schedule, which sounds so ridiculous but it was really stumping me with how to manage DD. During weekday days and cut into childcare time I really need for work? During weekend time and cut into very rare family time? During weekday evenings and pay $50 for a babysitter (on top of the class fee) each time I go to class? I’ve decided to bounce around classes and spread the misery around. Rant! Funny how DH doesn’t have to do this calculus of work/childcare/household juggling! And by funny I mean let’s burn the patriarchy to the ground 

Next appointment? AS in a week and a half yay! My mom and sister will be visiting, so along with DH it’s going to crowded in that little room 

Questions? I don’t think so!

GTKY: What are you planning to bring - aside from clothing & basic toiletries - in your Hospital Bag? Is there anything unique? Anything you feel is particular vital and are going to double- and triple-check that it's in there?

haha eyeliner because I wouldn’t feel like myself otherwise? And honestly last time is such a blur I can’t remember what all was in my bag. I think I’ll be building it from scratch again because I just can’t remember. So nipple cream is a great suggestion! Did I take slippers? A bra or just nursing tanks? No idea, past self. 

MamaK225

@cato99 - Don't get me wrong, I like the name ... Names don't need to be identical or have a "theme," but to go from Charlotte to Freya can send a lot of mixed signals to the girls. If DD1 had been named Astrid (which was one I was rooting for), it would definitely flow better. As far as packing, I would bring nursing tanks or the soft nursing bras (if you think that cotton dresses might be more your post-birth style). And definitely some sort of flip flops or some other easy on/easy off shoes for when you're required to walk around.

Avrilmai

@cato99 glad you were able to work out your yoga schedule, but really unfair that you have to do all of the juggling. 
@purplg8r enjoy your spring break! any books you're planning to read this week?
@MamaK225 glad you're getting back to feeling a bit more like you. 
@wabash15 I like the idea of sitting with the name for a while. We touch on names here and there, but it may be a good idea for us to come up with a few we really like and spend some time with them. 

How far along are you? 17+4
Any symptoms? I get headaches in the afternoon if I haven't had enough water yet, but I have yet to pinpoint what "enough" is. I'm shooting for a minimum of 70oz a day and usually meet that goal. 
Rant/Rave? Still waiting to feel some kind of movement. I think it will help to keep the anxiety down. I know it could realistically be a few more weeks. 
Next appointment? end of the month with the OB
Questions? 

GTKY: I honestly have no idea. I guess i will need some post delivery clothes, a phone charger and something for baby & me to leave the hospital in. Other than that, I'm putting this off for a few months. lol. (but i am making note of the suggestions here.)

MamaK225

@Avrilmai - I feel ya on the "where are ya, kiddo?" ... I finally broke down and bought a doppler today, hopefully, that'll give me the peace of mind I need to make it through the next 2-6 weeks when DD2 should be more active. I was told I don't have anterior placenta, but I know I have a retroverted uterus - but everything I've read said it should have "self-corrected" by this point or will very soon. So I'm just being anxious for anxiousness sake.

We had another couple over last night for St. Paddy's - it's our anniversary, but the last few weeks have just been brutal at work, so I was happy to have some social time. Their kids are 21 months apart with the youngest being almost 4 months, DD1 was *obsessed* with the baby ... and I was trying to relay that she's going to be "getting one" of her own soon, so I'm hoping she'll start warming up to the idea. She's still indifferent/refusing to be OK with a baby coming. LOL.

purplg8r

@Avrilmai you’re so good with hitting your goal!!! As for books, I finished The Gown by Jennifer Robson (was supposed to finish this for book club earlier. Oops). It was pretty good.  I also finished 2 YA books from my bookshelves and am on my 3rd. (Those have oy been okay)