Week 1 (11/01-11/07) Check-in w/o 04/05/20

mimser

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days:

FTM/STM/STM+:

Team Green/Pink/Blue:

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: 

Upcoming Appointments:

How are you feeling?:

Rants/Raves: 

Questions: 

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book?

jaclyn0405

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days:  November 1st! Currently 14w1d

FTM/STM/STM+:  STM, DD 2 (28 months)

Team Green/Pink/Blue:  We found out this weekend that we are Team PINK!

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: Let's see from The Bump we have a peach, Ovia we have a troll doll and Babylist says a bagel bite lol.

Upcoming Appointments:  Next week 5/13 for a routine OB appointment

How are you feeling?:  I am feeling great outside of headaches and getting lightheaded every time I stand up lol.  I am starting to get a little winded during what I would consider my less intense workouts, but I know my body is doing a lot and it comes with the territory.

Rants/Raves: Super excited to be welcoming another baby girl to the family, however it did sting my husband and I justttt a little bit to know that we will never have a son. He will be the ultimate #girldad though and I can't wait to refer to them as "our girls" and "my girls" or "the girls." It is just too cute to me for some reason.

Questions: None at the moment!

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book?  Oh Gosh this is difficult for me because I am an AVID reader and have been since I was younger.  The earliest one that I remember reading myself and reading it over and over and over again was "The Diary of Anne Frank." So I would say that is a childhood favorite.

bserena

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: November 7th, 13 weeks and 2 days

FTM/STM/STM+: FTM with 2 SD's

Team Green/Pink/Blue: Finding out so soon! Waiting on NIPT results.

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: A lemon

Upcoming Appointments: I have one today to check on things (had some concerns over the weekend). After that my next appt is the 27th!

How are you feeling?: Mentally, I am worried, but grateful they can get me in today to just double check everything. I had a great u/s last Wednesday so I know most likely everything is ok, but I am anxiety prone anyways so pregnancy definitely amps that up. Physically, I am doing good. Still dealing with RLP but it isn't as bad as last week, and insomnia. Other then that, and my belly that seems to be showing a bit, I feel pretty normal!

Rants/Raves: I am super excited to get our NIPT results this week and I feel like it'll make it all feel even more real knowing the sex. I am so grateful for my great OB who doesn't make me feel dumb for calling every other week freaking out, she is awesome. And my husband has been so supportive all weekend. I am feeling grateful today for sure. 

Questions: None right now.

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? Hmmm.... depends what we mean by childhood, lol! I LOVE reading and have since I was little. I have a ton of favorites from when I was really young, and am so excited to share them with my little one.. like Runaway Bunny, Is Your Mama a Llama, Goodnight Moon, and Harold and the Purple Crayon. I can't think of any favorites from like elementary school, but once I got to middle school I was big into fantasy YA books like the City of Bones series.

baby-2-due

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: Nov. 7th/ 13wks 2 days

FTM/STM/STM+: STM, DD 4

Team Green/Pink/Blue: finding out next week 

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: size of a macaroon

Upcoming Appointments:

NT scan tomorrow 

How are you feeling?:

Nauseous and tired but getting better!

Rants/Raves: 

Loving pasta! Hate the smell of meats! 

Questions: 

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book?
the hungry caterpillar

magdaaaa

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: nov 6, 13+4

FTM/STM/STM+: STM+ (DD - 10yo, DS 18 mths)

Team Green/Pink/Blue: team blue!

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: lemon

Upcoming Appointments: 5/12 for routine OB

How are you feeling?: Soooo much better! Great, actually - thank God!

Rants/Raves: None really!

Questions: when do we start our weekly hump day bump day thread bc I definitely have a bump!

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? Oh gosh, that’s tough. I loved guess how much I love you, chicka chicka boom boom, the giving tree, the very hungry caterpillar, there are so many good ones!

magdaaaa

@baby-2-due thinking about the smell of meat just made me gag. Lol!

mimser

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: November 3 / 14 weeks 

FTM/STM/STM+: FTM 

Team Green/Pink/Blue: Blue

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: Baby is as tall as a credit card is long / Baby is size of a peach

Upcoming Appointments: In office appointment with GP on May 25

How are you feeling?: In terms of symptoms I feel good. I'm anxiously waiting for NIPT results and I've been struggling emotionally since yesterday. Really hoping we get our good news today.

Rants/Raves: None

Questions: None

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? Anne of Green Gables

laurenmicheley

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: 13w+5

FTM/STM/STM+: FTM

Team Green/Pink/Blue: Blue

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: Lemon/Potsticker/Mini Cactus

Upcoming Appointments: 5/29 OB, 6/12 20-week scan

How are you feeling?: Hungry

Rants/Raves: Rant - I REALLY REALLY want a hot fudge sundae. Rave - I think we've picked a name!

Questions: When am I going to have to start wearing a maternity bra? I've been taking full advantage of no-bra-quarantine and I know that time is starting to come to a close.

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? Mickey in the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak 

bserena

@magdaaaa I was thinking of starting it tomorrow! Glad to know others are interested in it I didn't want to start it too early lol

mimser

@bserena @magdaaaa I was also thinking of starting it this week!

36anditsmyfirst

Will post a longer update when I'm feeling better, but wanted to reach out since I've felt dizzy and lightheaded for hours and not much is helping. Tried more water, food, salt, and elevating feet (since BP is lower than usual, but normal for preggo). Any tips or suggestions for managing dizziness? I'm going to bed!! Thanks in advance, friends.

hedgepig

@36anditsmyfirst Do you get allergies? I have had bad dizzy spells in the past and the doc I saw said that my ears/sinuses weren't draining properly because of inflammation caused by allergies. She had me start taking benadryl and it fixed it for me. Maybe something to ask your doctor about? She also had me use lots of hot compresses on the back of my neck and behind the ears to help facilitate drainage.

magdaaaa

@bserena @mimser yaaaay!!!! I’ll let one of y’all do the honors but my bodacious belly will definitely be there hahahah

magdaaaa

@laurenmicheley oh em gee... Mickey in the night kitchen!!! So good! I had completely forgot about that one.

36anditsmyfirst

Thank you so much, @hedgepig!! I'll look into that. Appreciate the suggestion.

36anditsmyfirst

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: 11/1, 14w4d

FTM/STM/STM+: FTM

Team Green/Pink/Blue: We're expecting a baby with a penis, as my friend said 

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: We have a peach baby as tall as a crayon

Upcoming Appointments: 16 weeks for more blood work

How are you feeling?: Better than last trimester, but lots of cramping/stretching in lower abdomen and pelvis, swollen breasts, headaches, and dizziness. This baby is clearly growing up a storm! And I still cry all the time, mostly because I feel happy or deeply moved. I think my hubs is over it. Lol

Rants/Raves: Totally overwhelmed with registry checklist, but loving working on pregnancy journal.

Questions: Do I really need a maternity bra and what's the best way to get one during a pandemic?

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? I loved reading as a child and still do, but as a wee one, my absolute favorites were the Bernstein Bears series. I tried to collect them all!!

laurenmicheley

@magdaaaa I think I loved it because of the naked picture of Mickey on one of the pages. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Nevertheless, it was my absolute favorite book and I was really into reading (still am).

jaclyn0405

@36anditsmyfirst the Bernstein Bears were a favorite of mine too!!

hedgepig

Oh man, so late to the party this week. I'll try to catch up!

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: 11/4, 14 weeks today

FTM/STM/STM+: STM

Team Green/Pink/Blue: Pink!

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: 🍑

Upcoming Appointments: With the midwife next week

How are you feeling?: Good! Boobs are growing, constipation continues, appetite is weird, but generally very hungry. 

Rants/Raves: Second trimester! Woot! My doc counts it starting at week 13, but I figure now it counts no matter what. 
I also just found out that one of my best friends, who has struggled with IF for years, is pregnant and due 4 days before me, also with a little girl! And my cousin's wife is due 2 days after me! So exciting 😊

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? The Boxcar Children, Bridge to Terabithia, The Hobbit/LOTR, Watership Down, Tamora Pierce books, Anne McCaffrey's Pern books, sooooo many. I love reading now, but I read a lot more then.

hedgepig

@laurenmicheley I've never heard of Mickey in the Night Kitchen, but I just went and looked it up and put it on my book list for DS. 
Also, thanks. Now I really want a hot fudge sundae 😭

name1109

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: 11/2 (Halloween baby anyone!!!!???) and 14 weeks 2 days!!!!

FTM/STM/STM+: 4TM

Team Green/Pink/Blue: Pink

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: peach

Upcoming Appointments: 16 week one

How are you feeling?: Pregnancy wise...varicose veins are AWFUL. I HATE them.  COVID wise...I feel like I’m melting every day. So. Hard. 40 hours of work plus antsy kids is just beyond rough. 

Rants/Raves:  @jaclyn0405@jaclyn0405 we semi wanted for a son too. Yay four girls 🥰. Honestly I’m kind of relieved. I was starting to worry about boy things. I mainly wanted four.   Now with all this COVID stuff...I’m exhausted and feeling on my last edge. How many times did someone draw on the walls today? Chalk on the outside of the house. General gnashing of teeth. The 2 yr old put in her backpack today and said she was going to soool (school). She even packed her backpack with oranges for her friends. When we went outside to ride bikes she lost her mind. It’s been a mind losing kind of day. 

Questions: I had one and now I forget

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? I read tons as a kid. The Giving Tree still makes me cry...but Anne of Green Gables (I’m excited to try the show), pretty much any Jane Austen, Little Women....

name1109

@36anditsmyfirst hang in there! Just wanted to send support vibes. 

@laurenmicheley .@36anditsmyfirst (my tags are failing)..if you try a maternity bra I’d be curious to hear what you think. Baby #3 knocked my cup size down to an A...so now I’m back in my normal B ones. I’ve never bought a maternity or nursing bra (I usually go up to a C or D while nursing)...no real reason...just haven't. I have a nursing running bra...I’m curious what people think. (remembered my question🤣)

laurenmicheley

@name1109 I will let you know for sure. If I was smaller chested I may not, but I'm a DDD/E so gotta support these girls.

jaclyn0405

@name1109 yes! That is so true! I am an excellent girl mom lol!

magdaaaa

@laurenmicheley I too am on the DDD/E team and so its already go time for strapping them in. I actually love the wacoal brand bras for pregnancy. they aren't cute, but they get the job done. our Belk sells them.

lindz42

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: 11/4 / 14w1d

FTM/STM/STM+: ftm

Team Green/Pink/Blue: finding out next week! (Time's going by slowly...)

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: as tall as a playing card 

Upcoming Appointments: midwife appt end of May

How are you feeling?: Pretty good lately. Appetite has been different lately and sometimes I can only eat cold foods? Feeling like I've gotten super lazy and now I'm feeling bad about it. Need to get back into a routine...

Rants/Raves: See above for some rants. As for raves, a couple people have told me this week that I'm "starting to look pregnant," even though I don't really see it yet. Now I'm careful with standing up during work Zooms because only a few people know so far!

Questions: Have you told your boss/job yet? I don't even know how to begin the conversation, especially working from home right now... 

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? The Z Was Zapped, Berenstein Bears books (also remember watching the cartoon? Anyone else?), Babysitter's Club books

mimser

I too don't know how to begin the conversation with my boss @warmwinter... I'll have to do it next week though and I forgot about Babysitters Club! I loved those books!

name1109

@warmwinter and @mimser for me I’ve told my bosses progressively earlier each time. Usually because I’ll be using more sick leave etc and so we can plan my work load.  The last two places I worked for pride(d) themselves for being great places to work period but also for women and working moms. I think given COVID it’s a much more private conversation? Or the conversation at other companies may mean termination of employment. However, I’ll share what I recall saying the last couple times. 

First baby: I was terrified to tell my boss. I waited and waited. I arranged a meeting and told them I was expecting. My boss and bosses boss were women. The bosses boss started crying, gave me a hug and told me to take off  12 weeks. 

Second time: I changed jobs. I interviewed extremely pregnant with #1 for that position so I started there after maternity leave. We then moved and I started teleworking full time. I scheduled a meeting and informed my male boss that I was expecting and that aside from various doctors visits there should be no change to my work product execution. 

Third-Fifth times: We lost one in there and I started telling earlier. I needed time off for pregnancy #3. #4 and #5 times, it was the same as saying I have a cold at that point. I enjoy working. For me it makes me a more balanced mom. But I also think we need to change the conversation such that future women do not need to tremble when they share they’re pregnant or need accommodations for things like breastfeeding or sick babies. 

mimser

Thanks for your insights @name1109 ! I think my nervousness comes from my company being only ran by men... and that I understand it will bring a bit more instability to this unstable time. I've also been working there for only 16 months. But ultimately, I think they'll be happy for me. 

laurenmicheley

@warmwinter I loved the Babysitters Club books, too. I always felt I was a Stacy with a little hint of Claudia, personally.

lindz42

@name1109 @mimser I'm not really worried about job security because I'm part of a union and they can't do anything with my position at this point of the school year. I have a mainly professional relationship with my boss, and this just feels like personal conversation, if that makes sense? I just don't want to make a big deal of it. I'm also not sure if I'm ready to think about maternity leave and returning to work post leave. I definitely plan to return, but if I decide to breast feed, I'm not sure how that will work with my work schedule. Hopefully I don't have to discuss specifics yet...

@laurenmicheley I remember connecting with the Mallory and Kristy stories the most. I always thought Claudia and Dawn were really cool.

mimser

@laurenmicheley @warmwinter I really related to Dawn, yet Kristy as well!

I'm also not really scared to lose my job by announcing this pregnancy.  If anything, with this COVID-19, I think it may actually secure my job ...

bserena

I am definitely worried about telling my job... I work for a small "start-up" type tech company. I LOVE it and have been there 3 years and I definitely think I am integral, when I am out sick people harass me all day (same with other workers, because we are so small, we all play big roles). So I have never really questioned my job stability. However, the company is pretty much all men. Out of 25, there are 4 women, including me. And the CEO is a super out of touch older rich guy. My immediate boss is amazing and already knows but I have to tell the CEO and CFO. Since we are under 50 they are not required to provide the 6 weeks we don't have any set handbook or anything so they can literally make up whatever they want for maternity leave. When I first started, there was a woman who was pregnant and left for mat leave and never came back, so that is my only experience with them and maternity leave. UGHHHH. Very stressed about it.

name1109

@bserena and @mimser I did find that when I worked with mostly men, a lot are fathers and were genuinely happy. I got a lot of advice for my husband. It was weird but not terrible if that makes sense. 

@warmwinter I am part of a union as well. When I told my (male) team lead this time around I just tagged it into a normal conversation I had on work products. I put it in light that I would need some time for doctors visits etc and work scheduling. We moved on from there. I did make it clear when they hired me (same agency) that I was interested in a fourth. 

bserena

I just got my NIPT results back, all low risk and its a boy! 💙💙 I'm so excited

mimser

@bserena that's great news! 💙

I'm still waiting for my results... hopefully on Monday! 🤞

jaclyn0405

Aww that is great @bserena and congrats on a little boy!

bserena

@mimser yes I hope you get yours Monday!! 

And thank you and @jaclyn0405 😊

ksd20

Est Due Date/ Weeks + Days: 10/31, 15 weeks

FTM/STM/STM+: STM (DS 15 months) 

Team Green/Pink/Blue: Green

Interesting Baby Fact / Baby is size of: navel orange

Upcoming Appointments: 6/5 anatomy scan with MFM

How are you feeling?: good. Nausea is mostly gone and I don't feel completely wiped out. Work is still kicking my butt though physically

Rants/Raves: honestly not looking forward to Mother's Day tomorrow. DH volunteered to work this weekend so....

Questions: 

GTKY: What was your favorite childhood book? Yep, big reader here too. The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys, Harry Potter


I got some cheap maternity/nursing bras from Motherhood Maternity when they did their $8/$10 bra and tank sale. I'm looking to get a cheap cross over sleep/sports bra somewhere too. 

lindz42

@bserena I got my NIPT results back too! We got very similar results-- low risk and boy! 💙

lindz42

@ksdelong20 How do you like the Motherhood Maternity clothing? I've seen their sales but haven't committed to buying anything yet...