Weekly check-in, w/o 12/30

peacefuladventures

Putting this up for the community as we know @kamays54 is having precious bonding time and recovering from recent birth experience. Thank you Isha for putting up last week!


Name:

Location:

Age:

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: Do you make New Year's resolutions or intentions and if you do, what are they and how do you intend to keep them in 2025?

fk18

Name: Fiona

Location: WA

Age: 34

EDD / Weeks + Days: 1/20; 37w2d

FTM/STM/TTM+: FTM 

Baby is the size of a (an): Romain lettuce 

Team blue/pink/green: pink 

Upcoming Appointments: 1/3 for weekly OB 

How are you feeling?:  like I have to pee any time I stand up 😂 also, the hip pain is starting to have a presence. Overall, I’m hanging in there and so grateful for how gradually we grow in pregnancy. My body has really impressed me with how it has handled pregnancy. 

Rants/Raves: a little combo. My OB practice has really struggled with scheduling me with my primary this whole pregnancy, often canceling appointments I book ahead with her and rescheduling with new people in the practice I’ve never met. This Friday will be the 5th provider lol. It’s a little frustrating lacking the continuity but is comforting knowing that if I go into spontaneous labor, I will likely be familiar with whomever is on call. 

Questions: anybody trying “home induction efforts”? If so, what are investing most in?

GTKY: Do you make New Year's resolutions or intentions and if you do, what are they and how do you intend to keep them in 2025?

Sometimes, but not this year. I’ve actually switched to annual bucket list items, instead (since 2021). For 2025, it’s delivering a baby having one NEW thing each year has been exciting and rewarding for me 

strongishmom

Thanks @peacefuladventures for starting this this week! 

Name: Isha (strongishmom)

Location: Colorado

Age: 38 (turning 39 on the 13th!)

EDD / Weeks + Days: Jan 15 / 38w

FTM/STM/TTM+:  FTM

Baby is the size of a (an): winter melon, or a Hello Kitty boom box 😂

Team blue/pink/green: boy (a pediatrician I met asked if we’re having “a son or a daughter”, which I thought was a nice alternative way to ask!)

Upcoming Appointments: Monday 1/6 for weekly OB check

How are you feeling?: As I said to my friends this week, large and not entirely in charge! I can’t believe how much I’ve slowed down over the last month. My pelvic floor is super heavy, I can never sleep enough, and baby is constantly poking around inside as he runs out of room. I have to pee ALL the TIME, but thankfully less so overnight - I usually only have to get up once or twice. I got my cervix checked this week and it’s starting to thin but isn’t dilating yet, which I guess is exactly what should be happening, so I don’t expect baby to come before the due date. Emotionally I’m all over the place - some days I’m great and some days I’m anxious. I can’t wait to stop working for a while but I can’t believe I’m this close!

Rants/Raves: I will never not rant about the state of parental leave in the US. I wish I could take off before my due date but I’m planning on working as long as I can so I can take as much time as possible once baby is out. (Though as I say that, I’m debating whether to switch to part time the week of my due date to give myself a bit of a break… we’ll see!)

Questions: natm

GTKY: Do you make New Year's resolutions or intentions and if you do, what are they and how do you intend to keep them in 2025? I usually put some broad goals down every year but it varies on whether I stick to them. This year I really want to get back to a lifting routine by the end of the year (nothing crazy, but some weights in my hands!) and I’m trying to be deliberate about how I work my way up to that while giving myself flexibility for if recovery takes longer than I expect. I just don’t want to find myself 2 years down the line still not lifting! 

strongishmom

@fk18 I’ve been drinking raspberry leaf tea every other day or so - I keep meaning to increase it to every day. I haven’t tried anything else but if we get past my birthday (so I can be sure by then that baby won’t share my bday!) I’ll probably introduce other things just for the heck of it: pineapple, curb walking, sex (lol), whatever else the internet suggests if it helps me feel like I’m doing something. 

fk18

@isha, I’m also drinking raspberry leaf tea and just started dates today! My OB and Dr. Google indicate these methods won’t get you going sooner, but are supposed to help expedite the labor process once it starts! 

I’m reading nipple stimulation and orgasm are supposed to help naturally induce so that sounds fun haha. Maybe make some serious efforts there once i’m 39 weeks. I get the sense my girl is comfy as hell in there and won’t be budging any time soon lol 

peacefuladventures

Name: Kaycee

Location: Washington D.C. / DMV

Age: 43

EDD / Weeks + Days: January 7, today I am 39+4

FTM/STM/TTM+: First Time Mom

Baby is the size of a (an): Pumpkin 

Team blue/pink/green: baby boy

Upcoming Appointments: the big one this Sunday! My husband and I elected to schedule an induction - not our original birth plan, but after meeting and discussing options with our birth team since Week 37, including perspectives from the OB/MFM and Midwifery/doula worlds, as well as other factors, we thought this was best given the information we have and our personal situation. I had been hesitant for a long time as I wanted my body to do its thing (and quite frankly, everyone thought I would deliver earlier!) - - and the fact that baby and I have been healthy and everything normal the entire pregnancy. We had a lot of questions and we were thoughtful in the process. This was a decision we made recently and was only given a certain day and time for availability. With all that being said, baby may still be born on his actual due date, but not through spontaneous labor (unless that happens soon!)  

How are you feeling?: Anxious, nervous, excited, prepared (as much as we can be) - a little bit of a sense of relief. We went through a lot of change in a short period of time, all while I was pregnant. Seems like a closing of a chapter and turning the page to a new one. 

Physically, I am feeling like I. AM. THERE. haha. I feel like I've "dropped", a lot of pressure on pelvis and just a lot harder to move around. . . and I think I feel that "lightning" feeling - but a bit more subtle. Lower back more achy, more often

Mentally and emotionally, feeling more and more at peace and am ready to welcome baby to join us soon!

Rants/Raves: Scheduling the induction actually provided a bit of relief for my husband and I, as we had some stress and anxiety around the uncertainty, even though we both wanted to go w/ spontaneous labor and were willing to go into Week 40 for it. After a ton of consideration and discussions with our doctors and their continued recommendations, we were a bit surprised we ended up going this route - - and feeling good about the decision. One of my best friends told me earlier on in my pregnancy "don't set any expectations for how and when you give birth - oftentimes, it's not what your 'dream birth experience' is, so just keep an open mind and be prepared for anything. I'm so glad she told me that - so throughout my pregnancy, I asked close family and friends to share their birth story with me, so I can hear a range of experiences, and to honor their birth stories as well. Those have really been helpful and comforting! 

Questions:  None

GTKY: Do you make New Year's resolutions or intentions and if you do, what are they and how do you intend to keep them in 2025? I always have a list of intentions that I do along a new year process I do every December, but I didn't do that this year (even though I wrote the question lol)! However, one of the things that I have been intentional about given that baby will be coming in the new year - - is to still be mindful and take care of my own health and well-being, so I can show up as a healthy mommy to baby boy  

peacefuladventures

@fk18 @strongishmom (Isha) looks like it's just us 3 these past few weeks haha! Since I'll be giving birth soon, I'll be dropping off, but will start a DM thread with the three of us on IG! 

Re: natural induction - I've been working with a birth doula and she's been great! A few things (some are not inducing activities, but help prep our bodies for labor)
- walking! 
- I also am drinking organic raspberry leaf tea on a specific schedule. This doesn't necessarily induce, but rather helps to prepare the cervix (effacement). Weeks 34-37 (1 bag/day, steep for 10 mins); Weeks 38-39 (2 bags/day, steep for 10 mins); Weeks 40+ (3 bags per day, steep for 10 mins); For Labor Only - 10-14 bags, steep for an hour, create pitcher and drink throughout labor. The last one - I'm unsure if I'm going to do during induction, but if you go into spontaneous labor, prepare and drink starting Early Labor
- Miles Circuit - 3 activities, 30 mins each, one right after the other. The last activity (1 of 3) is specific to the individual. Don't think this is a natural induction, but rather for positioning of baby. Starting at least 5x a week Week 36. Again, that was specific for me, but it may be different depending on person and pregnancy experience. 

kamays54

@peacefuladventures just seeing this now.  I hope everything went/goes smoothly! 

kmtz89

good luck ladies! keeping you in my thoughts as you wait for your babes! 

mommyv_2025

Name: Priscilla

Location: Southern CA

Age: 30

EDD / Weeks + Days: 1/27/25, 37 weeks +1 day?

FTM/STM/TTM+: FTM

Baby is the size of a (an): Romain Lettuce

Team blue/pink/green: Baby girl!

Upcoming Appointments: 1/16 last regular OB check up before due date appointment 

How are you feeling?: Like a walking watermelon. Thankful but definitely feeling pregnant now more than ever.

Rants/Raves: Rant-Feeling these sharp pains, stiff hips and new symptom of swollen feet and ankles in the evenings. Thank goodness blood pressure is still reading withing a safe range. Raves: Baby is still kicking and letting me know she loves my meal time. I wonder just how much she's growing with all the hunger cravings I've been feeling. A great change from our early scans where she was measuring small. Very blessed she grew into a small but average percentile the farther along we got.

Questions: Anyone still working until your due date? I have to option to go on CA State Disability but want to save my extra time for after baby is here. I'm thankful to have a desk job but my puffy ankles and stiff hips are starting to get uncomfortable. 

GTKY: Do you make New Year's resolutions or intentions and if you do, what are they and how do you intend to keep them in 2025?
> Now that we are expecting our first baby, I want to be more involved with going out or making new memories/traditions with friends and family. Husband and I are home bodies but I want our child to get to experience all the things we didn't get a chance to have in our childhood.

***I hope everyone on this page have a wonderful birthing experience and if baby is already here, hope you have a great time bonding with baby! 

strongishmom

@mommyv_2025 In Colorado we have paid family leave but that won’t kick in until the birth date (and I don’t have medical reason to take it earlier) so I’m also working at long as possible. However, I’m going to start taking half days next week using my PTO - I’m already at 39 weeks and exhausted so I’m hoping that will help me rest a bit more before baby comes. 

mommyv_2025

That's so smart to take half days! Maybe I could utilize that method for my remaining time. I'm just slowing down a lot more and think I'm starting to be less productive these last few days. Congrats on making it this far, just a little bit more unless baby has already made their appearance