TTGP Grad Check-in 2/6

jrouge12

What's going on this week?

How far along are you?

Upcoming appointments?

Cravings/Symptoms?

Rants/Raves/Randoms?

Questions?

ruby696

What's going on this week? Not a whole lot. The weeks feel like they're flying by now.

How far along are you? 26 weeks today!

Upcoming appointments? OB appt this afternoon. I'm hoping she read my MFM's report and has some insight.

Cravings/Symptoms? Eating is hard. That's about it. Constipation plagues me and sleep is hard. But I'm happy to deal with the symptoms if I get to have healthy babies.

Rants/Raves/Randoms? I can't believe we're so close or at the 3rd tri mark! It's getting so close!

Questions? Nope, not today 

jrouge12

What's going on this week? End of quarter craziness made this a rough week. But it's all over and the weekend is on the horizon!

How far along are you? 25+5

Upcoming appointments? Echo was yesterday and I have a regular checkup on 2/24

Cravings/Symptoms? I can't say more than 3 sentences to students without getting breathless. There was a lot of telling students I needed to sit today. Shes definitely sitting high.

Rants/Raves/Randoms? The echo was yesterday and overall I'm happy with the results. They did their own anatomy scan and then the echo. The tech got an image like the previous tech pointing to a vsd but the doctor didn't think it was an issue. He came in used the US to watch the heart himself, listened to the valves, explained the image the tech had captured and said he didn't think it was a vsd or if it was it was so minor it wasn't a concern. For extra caution I'll go back in 8 weeks for a repeat echo. He didn't think I had to change my birth plan (from giving birth at the smaller women's hospital to their hospital), that there was any reason I couldn't go forward with a regular vaginal delivery. I'll feel even better in 8 weeks if everything still looks good. Baby girl was definitely showing off for the tech with some acrobatics! 

Questions? Not right now.

jrouge12

@ruby696 Any day I poop normally I feel accomplished. Good luck at the appointment!!

ruby696

@jrouge12 That's great news about the echo! I'm so relieved for you! And seriously, when did pooping become such a victory? I tried metamucil last night - nothing. 

jrouge12

@ruby696 I'm always afraid of fiber supplements because I'm afraid they'll hit when I'm teaching!

ruby696

@jrouge12 Lol, I did the mini dosage and hoped for something last night or early this morning. I'll get more aggressive over the weekend.

shamrocandroll

@ruby696 I hated eating with DS1 and it makes things really hard.  I used to just try to eat calorie dense foods in small amounts because I just plain didn't feel like eating the whole pregnancy.  I hope it gets easier!

@jrouge12 Glad to hear your echo went well and the doctor wasn't highly concerned.  Also glad to hear they're being cautious and looking again in 8 weeks!

What's going on this week?  Ugh, too much!  I feel so far behind here!  Work is getting crazy and I don't see it easing up before I go out on maternity leave, since I have a lot to wrap up/hand off between now and then!

How far along are you?  27 weeks today!  I can't believe we're just about in 3rd tri!

Upcoming appointments?  Growth scan on 2/17

Cravings/Symptoms?  Last night I went to get some Cheez-It white cheddar grooves and discovered MH had eaten them, and I was SO SAD.  He said they were in the cabinet for weeks, which is true and fair, but I wanted them there for when I needed that crunchy, savory snack!  Hmph.

Rants/Raves/Randoms?  My boss is really irritating me lately.  We've been fortunate enough to hire a couple of very overqualified folks on our team over the last year, and I warned him that he needed to realize they're super overqualified and therefore likely won't last forever in their positions, and also that we can't set that as our new precedent at the pay levels we have currently.  Well, lately he's been setting it as his new precedent, and it's really starting to grind on me.  I do my job extremely well, but I can't be expected to perform at the same level as my counterpart who came here after being CEO at a fairly big corporation.  I can/will work on continuous growth, obviously, but he's asking me to own teaching of tool sets to my colleagues when I myself are only vaguely familiar with them and I'm just not really sure what to tell him.  Like, dude I have my unique skill sets and things I'm good at, and he has his.  If you want me to magically just be good at these things that he's spent a good chunk of his career becoming an expert in, then I don't really know what to tell you.  Ugh, I know that's vague and not very specific, but I needed to just vent, haha.  He also keeps pushing me to travel more next year and that's just not in my job description and I am not at a life stage where I can just do that easily with my family.

Questions?  Do any other working moms out there have any advice on continuing to grow your career without sacrificing your family?  I'm a lower level manager right now and I love my job, but I'm feeling more and more hopeless about this lately.  My boss was able to travel all the time when his kids were young while his wife took on raising them, and that just isn't an option for our family.  I'm the primary income, and also I want to be present for my kids.  

ruby696

@shamrocandroll I came back from maternity leave with DD and had two back to back trials (one wasn't even my case) because my boss wanted to know that I could do it after being out. It tanked my supply and I was only able to BF DD for 8 months. I found a new job with more flexibility, better pay, and no travel. The company I worked for was never going to change for me, so I had to make my own changes. Sometimes I wonder if it was the right move, but at the end of the day, being a present mom was more important to me than becoming the super lawyer my boss expected. Not sure how well that translates for your job. It's probably easier to find a new job as an attorney, since there are law firms everywhere.

jrouge12

@shamrocandroll I am also in disbelief we're looking at third tri!! DH also frequently eats the food I have been ignoring. I've cried a few times this pregnancy over it.
I've not found it easy to be the primary income and feel like I'm there for my family enough. We held off TTC for this baby until I had tenure. As a teacher I guess there are luxuries that make raising a family easier (same vacations, holidays, similar schedules) but there's no getting my work done in my contractual day. I go in early, work late a lot, and see more weekends at the school then I'd like to. But teaching at the k-12 level is dominated by women. Most of my admins are women. And while that doesn't always mean an understanding boss, it's not the worst situation. Like @ruby696 said a change in companies might not be easy but I think if your boss isn't accommodating and understanding to your need for that balance it could be the right thing, if the right opportunity came across. 

m6agua

What's going on this week? I've been selling some of DD's old clothes on FB, so getting those set up for people to pick up has taken some time. I also watch the Bachelor and that too 5 hours of my time this week... ugh. I am so ready for this weekend.

How far along are you? 26+1

Upcoming appointments?  Feb 18 for 28 week/glucose screening, Feb 24 with Endocrinology

Cravings/Symptoms? It feels like my uterus and skin is stretching lately, I also feel like baby boy is so low so my belly has been feeling more heavy. Also getting that bruised feeling in my pubic bone/vag again.

Rants/Raves/Randoms? I am excited for next weekend DH and I both have Friday and Sunday off. DD will go to my parents on Friday so we can really get started on getting the office cleared out to be her room.

Questions? Has the movement changed for anyone else lately? The last two days I think I've been feeling less movement than I used to but maybe not since when I feel him move it just seems different. I'm thinking it is just that he is getting bigger with less space, but I may call to see if I can get in for a quick check. I go back and forth with having anxiety over it.

m6agua

@ruby696 Have you been trying coffee to help with the constipation? My next suggestion is a really good quality magnesium citrate supplement or some buffered vitamin C and a good quality live probiotic. Here is a good link that actually talks about all of these things.
https://drhyman.com/blog/2017/01/13/simple-steps-dealing-constipation/

@jrouge12 I'm glad the echo went well and it seems to be no big deal, also good that they are still going to monitor you!

@shamrocandroll It's always sad when your pregnant self wants something only to find out you no longer have it! I'm sorry work sucks lately. No advice as I really have no opportunities to grow nor do I desire to move up to a art director position in my field.

ruby696

@m6agua This morning I had a medium half-caff latte, three prunes, and metamucil. Daring while at work, but I'm desperate. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

jrouge12

@m6agua I agree the movement feels different. Baby used to lay across my uterus and kick the sides of my abdomen but now I either have a head or a but encroaching on lung space. I say anytime you're worried it's worth a call. Or purposely due something to get baby to move like ice water.

@ruby696 That is so daring for work!! Especially mixing the prunes with coffee. Is that like coke and mentos?