Weekly Check-in w/o 4/28

littlemarshmallow

EDD / Weeks + Days:

FTM/STM/TTM+:

Baby is the size of a (an):

Team blue/pink/green: 

Upcoming Appointments: 

How are you feeling?: 

Rants/Raves: 

Questions: 

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite?

kbru88

EDD / Weeks + Days: June 15th / 33wkd 2d

FTM/STM/TTM+: 6thTM 

Baby is the size of a (an): butternut squash

Team blue/pink/green: 💙

Upcoming Appointments: May 3rd

How are you feeling?: allergies are kicking my butt. And it looks like a cold is going around the family. 

Rants/Raves: 

Questions: 

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite? Cooking

maggiemadeit

EDD / Weeks + Days: June 14 / 33+3, but c-section scheduled for May 23

FTM/STM/TTM+: TTM

Baby is the size of a (an): celery

Team blue/pink/green: pink

Upcoming Appointments: weekly NST on Wednesday

How are you feeling?: I'm tired! All this bed resting is exhuasting LOL

Rants/Raves: Only 12 more days until 35 weeks!! That's the cutoff to deliver at our local hospital, and our big goal to reach. It would be great if we can make it to the c-section date, but if not, just being able to stay local and hopefully avoid the NICU would be a blessing. 

Questions: NATM

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite? Definitely cooking. I also like tending to the garden, but I guess that's more of a hobby than a chore. 

sbaby2023

EDD / Weeks + Days: June 15, 33w + 2d

FTM/STM/TTM+: FTM

Baby is the size of a (an): small Pineapple 

Team blue/pink/green: 💙

Upcoming Appointments: May 7th

How are you feeling?: Very tired. Also the last week or so I have had really intense sweet cravings. I want to eat cookies 24/7 and it’s taking all my willpower not to (I am still eating a lot more cookies than normal though haha). Not sure if that is normal or not. It’s strange because I haven’t really had the sweet cravings any other time throughout my pregnancy.

Rants/Raves: Rants: the weather is getting hotter and I cannot keep cool. Also the constant sneezing due to allergies is making not peeing myself constantly difficult haha

Rave: my husband and I have a short beach trip that we leave for next Wednesday and I am
excited to take off work.

Questions: NATM

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite?my favorite chore is also cooking. Although recently I haven’t wanted to do much of anything 

maggiemadeit

@sbaby2023 I have been craving carbs/sweets too! I have never eaten so much breakfast cereal in my life. My current favorite is chocolate Chex with cold whole milk. 

littlemarshmallow

EDD / Weeks + Days: June 1st 35+2

FTM/STM/TTM+: STM

Baby is the size of a (an): pineapple

Team blue/pink/green: green

Upcoming Appointments: dr app May 10

How are you feeling?: so tired. I still have 3 more weeks of work. I’m exhausted! I feel bad for my husband because by the time I get home from work I am useless for about 2 hours

Rants/Raves: 
rant - we have changed our minds on our girl name… again! Who knows at this point what this baby’s name will be if they’re a girl. 🤦🏽‍♀️
rave - baby is head down!! Just had an ultrasound and I made the tech reassure me 3 times before I believed her that this baby isn’t breech anymore 

Questions: when is everyone done work? How long are you taking off?

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite? I weirdly enjoy cleaning up after supper. It’s just so satisfying when I finish and the kitchen is clean 

kbtt2022

EDD / Weeks + Days: June 27/ 32+4

FTM/STM/TTM+: 3rd kid, se and pregnancy 

Baby is the size of a (an): coconut

Team blue/pink/green: blue

Upcoming Appointments: next week

How are you feeling?: pretty good. Hips are a bit sore.

Rants/Raves: husband is sick.  Hoping the rest of us don't get it!

Questions: 

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite? I enjoy cooking, I love mowing the lawn and doing firewood.

kbtt2022

@littlemarshmallow I'm planning to take 12 weeks off and working right up until labor. I'm allowed 2 additional weeks prior but don't plan on using it.

saltedcaramel518

EDD / Weeks + Days: 6/18 33 weeks

FTM/STM/TTM+: third

Baby is the size of a (an): ferret

Team blue/pink/green: green

Upcoming Appointments: checkup on 5/7

How are you feeling?: Still dealing with sciatic pain on my right side. It does feel better when I stretch, but it's  painful transitioning from sitting/lying to standing.

Rants/Raves: It's a long story, but my boss is unexpectedly retiring, and her last day is 5/31. She's the main person that was going to take over my responsibilities during my maternity leave. Her job tasks are being shifted to 3 people that have no idea how to do her job, and those people are now also learning how to do my job. It's been a bit stressful.

Questions: Does anyone else have really tight muscles? Some days my whole body feels very tight.

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite? Probably laundry

saltedcaramel518

@littlemarshmallow I plan on working until I have the baby. I work from home at a desk job, so I'm not on my feet.

curlyandpreggo

EDD / Weeks + Days: June 8 / 34 + 3

FTM/STM/TTM+: STM

Baby is the size of a (an): Pineapple

Team blue/pink/green: Pink

Upcoming Appointments: Ultrasound on May 10 and midwives on May 14

How are you feeling?: Generally pretty good. I'm getting a lot more pressure in my pelvis which isn't the most fun and I've been having lower back pain - but if I do my pelvic floor PT exercises it helps a lot with the back pain (I just need to be better about doing them!)

Rants/Raves: 

Rant: I'm trying to buy a car seat for my mom's car so she can take our toddler places when we have the new one and I am struggling. I forgot how much decision fatigue it can be to choose one (and the factors for hers are different than when I was buying one for us)

Rave: I think we are going to go on one last trip this weekend, which will hopefully be fun!

Questions: None right now

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite? Right now I don't feel like doing many normal tasks/chores (though I'm very into projects like cleaning out closets...nesting at its finest). In general I would say cooking, through I like it less since having a toddler because I always feel so rushed!

maggiemadeit

@littlemarshmallow With my first 2 I worked up until I was induced/went into labor, and was out 8 weeks with #1 and 12 weeks with #2.

I work freelance now so it's a balance between taking on new work and risking not being able to complete it. I had planned to stop taking on new assignments May 1 (3 weeks ahead of the c-section), but I ended up not taking anything new after I had the scare and had to go the hospital, becuase we realistically don't know when she's coming, and I can't risk not being able to deliver on a project and ruin my good freelancing name lol. I have one ongoing project that I am planning to wrap up today/tomorrow, and then that's it. I hate not working, it sucks to leave money on the table, and I could really use the distraction, but I just don't feel comfortable risking it, and also adding any stress to an already stressful situation.

Our childcare is lined up for September, so I'll be out until then. Longer than we had anticipated, given that we thought this baby would arrive mid June, but I can't get into daycare any sooner. Thank goodness we've been saving for leave for a while!  

What kind of time is everybody's partner getting off? My husband is still trying to figure it out, but we think he'll be able to take 8 weeks, which would be awesome. 

curlyandpreggo

@littlemarshmallow I plan to work up until baby comes and then I'll take about 14 weeks!

@sbaby2023 I've had a sweet tooth this whole pregnancy (which I didn't with my last one really). Smoothies can trick me into feeling like I'm getting a sweet treat while still being relatively healthy. It's also good with the hot weather that's starting here. 

@maggiemadeit hoping you can at least make it to the 35 week mark!! So close!

@kbru88 I'm also dealing with allergies and it's the worst. There is pollen literally blanketing the ground here. 

@saltedcaramel518 that sucks about your boss! I'm sorry you have that added stress so close to baby coming. I also feel really tight in certain places!

saltedcaramel518

@maggiemadeit My husband works for our school district, so he'll be off until school starts back in late July.

If it wasn't summer, he'd probably only take off for a week (assuming I didn't need extensive recovery from delivery). He hates sitting at home and starts wanting to climb the walls, which drives us both nuts. 

maggiemadeit

@saltedcaramel518 I’m a little worried about that. My husband starts to get antsy after a week of vacation 😂

kbtt2022

@maggiemadeit I'm guessing maybe 3 days for my husband? He owns a construction business with some big projects this summer so his time off will be minimal and likely he will still be checking in on his jobs while " off".

sbaby2023

@maggiemadeit @curlyandpreggo glad I am not alone. Cereal sounds good, I might try that instead of cookies, it’s probably healthier. I have also been having fruit but lately it’s hasn’t been hitting the spot like it used to

@littlemarshmallow I am also working up to delivery but I work from home and my job can be done from the couch if needed. I am planning to take 12 weeks off.

My husband gets 12 weeks paid paternity leave (he actually gets better paternity leave than I get maternity leave which is ridiculous). He can take it any time in the first year and we are trying to figure out how to divide all of that up. It’s hard to make a decision because we both work from home so it may just make more sense for him to take it all at once because if he is home with the baby after I go back to work, I can’t imagine I will be able to concentrate on work while they both are here 😂. He also struggles with not doing anything so we will see how that works 

littlemarshmallow

Wow it’s crazy how different maternity leave is around the world! I’m off at 38 weeks and I’m taking 14 months (I can take up to 18 but as a teacher it makes more sense for me to only take 14 and go back at the start of the school year). I’m Canada for reference. One difference here is that there is zero options for day care before the kid is a year old and it’s still tough to find for younger than 18 months

maggiemadeit

@sbaby2023 With my first we staggered our leave so I took my 8 weeks, then my husband took his 4 weeks. It was nice to not have to worry about going back to work and daycare at the same time, especially with a first baby.

@littlemarshmallow So true about the differences internationally. Leave in the US is pathetic. I used to work for a European company and everyone there was appalled. Enjoy your time and your progressive leave policy! 

curlyandpreggo

@maggiemadeit @sbaby2023 we are doing a partial stagger to give us more time without double daycare bills. My husband can use six weeks of his sick leave to "take care of me" immediately following delivery, so we will both be off for the first 6 weeks which will be nice. I'll then finish out my parental leave and then he will take his plus some of his annual leave. Last time we did all of our leave together, so it will be a slight change this time around!

The US makes me very sad in terms of parental leave policies. It's so nice that you have so much time @littlemarshmallow though it would be nice for the system to also support women who want to take less time by having more daycare available (I guess there are trade offs though)!

jenEP

EDD / Weeks + Days: 31+6, June 27

FTM/STM/TTM+: 4TH

Baby is the size of a (an): 2 liter bottle of juice

Team blue/pink/green: pink

Upcoming Appointments: ultrasound next week!

How are you feeling?: feeling so much better since my iron infusions. Definitely uncomfortable at night and if I’m standing or sitting too long. 

Rants/Raves: Rant-DH has been out of town for a week, Rave-he gets home tonight

Questions: 

GTKY: what task/chore is your favourite? This feels like a trick question… the chore I dislike the least is probably dishes but I wouldn’t say I love it. 

jenEP

@littlemarshmallow I worked up until my due date with my first 3 babies (who were all born a few days after my due date). This time around I’m not working outside of the home. 

@maggiemadeit my husband will take 2 weeks off, which is what he did with all the other babies. He owns his own company (that actually offers a good paid leave policy for employees) so he has a lot of pressure to keep things moving forward. Things tend to fall apart if he’s gone for too long so he doesn’t take the leave that his own company offers.