Haven't seen this in awhile. I'm thinking we don't need it weekly so maybe just monthly, unless this gets to be too much. I've put some questions below but I'm hoping it becomes more of an open discussion that we can get to know each other rather than just people popping in to answer the questions and then leaving, post and ghost.
How far along are you?
How are things going?
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice?
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
Re: FTM Check-in {January}
How far along are you? 18+6
How are things going? Pretty good. Still haven't felt any movement, but hopefully soon since I'm 19 weeks tomorrow.
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice? Not really. This doesn't really answer the question but I had someone make a comment on my FB gender announcement that irked me. My friend has a 9 month old boy, so we're both happy I'm having a boy too, but her mom posted "yay! A little friend for E". I was like excuse me, but my child isn't an accessory to your grandchild. He is his own person. I mean I know what she meant but it definitely could've been worded better.
Married August 2015
DS born 5/23/2018
TTC #2 July 2020
Totally agree @Amphibious22. I am always amazed how people can make someone else's joyful announcement about them somehow lol.
I am 17+1 today. Overall ok, having growing pains and finally getting over a bad head cold. I am on my last days of vacation and was supposed to be working on school work but didn't. Motivation is very low when sick.
As for advice... so far nothing too crazy. I am on a local mom's FB group where people ask some great questions and I just read through everything. Picked up some good tips there! There's a PnP trick where you leave a PnP set up by the door and when your kids is ready, use it as a holding pen while trying to get out the door. I hear it works great with multiple kids running around!
How far along are you? 17+3
How are things going? good the daycare hunt continues. We made a lot of calls today and left a lot of voicemail's so hopefully they will get back to us soon. So far no one that we are interested in interviewing/touring. One Montessori is $1,400 a week! I am hoping that they miss understood MH when he called. Also, first week of Bradley class tonight! It was freezing in the room when we sat in on a class so I want to bring my big cozy queen sized blanket but MH said that would be too much.
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice? Most of what people have said has been along the lines of how our lives, schedules and activities will be so different with a baby. And while I agree with that for the most part, we knew what we were getting ourselves into when we decided to start trying, but the other part of me is like we are just going to make the baby/kid a part of our life. In the summer we like to go to breweries, take the dog to the dog park, go to soccer games and have cookouts. I don't see any of that changing. They're advice usually sounds like they hate being a parent and then followed up by "but it's all worth it
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
How are things going? Good. She kicks nonstop, and I think it's so fun, but I do sort of wish she wouldn't flip so much. It's like she's squeezing out my bladder like a tube of toothpaste. It's hard to stay motivated to drink water when I already feel like I'm going to have to pee every 15 min.
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice? My best advice has been from youtube videos, honestly, mostly related to organization, scheduling (sleep, feeding, etc.), and breastfeeding. Last night an ex-coworker/friend told me that under no circumstances should I ever let the newborn baby sleep in our room because babies are too noisy lol. She was appalled I would consider having the basinet in our room. But literally we don't have any other options in this apt if my mom is going to stay with us at first (which she is going to), so.... I'd rather have my mom's help? Honestly, though, in my day-to-day life, I don't really know any moms or anyone who even wants children yet, so I don't get a lot of advice. I'm also the person people come to for advice, never the other way around, so I've been told by a lot of people they feel intimidated to ever suggest anything to me because they think I'll judge them or already have a better way of doing it? Which is a shame because I actually like to hear everyone's advice and filter out the good/bad myself.
@krashke yeah, totally agree about fitting baby into our life, not the other way around, as much as possible.This is why it's important to take the person giving you advice's temperament into consideration when considering the advice.
How far along are you? 18+4
How are things going? I have my anatomy scan tomorrow, and as I always am before a milestone I'm pretty nervous about it. I hope once this is over I can relax more and enjoy this time. I've also started the daycare hunt since it's been brought up a few times here. It is so expensive!
@amphibious22 I haven't felt movement yet either. I thought I had a couple weeks ago but it hasn't been consistent so instead of letting that freak me out I'm telling myself it wasn't the baby in the first place. I plan on asking the ultrasound tech tomorrow if I should be feeling movement by now given the size of the baby and whatnot.
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice? I've gotten some ridiculous nutritional feedback by a couple people who don't think being vegan and pregnant mix. I trust that they come from a place of concern, but it's hard not to take offense at the way it's delivered. Like, I'm super open to talking about nutrition, but please do some research first!
I've also gotten a lot of "you won't sleep once baby is here" talk, which I get, but the other day my coworker told me that there is no better sleep than when you sleep with the baby. It was the first positive thing I've heard and it was very appreciated.
Me: 32 | DH: 36
Married June 2005
1/2016 - TTC#1
4/2017 - Initial RE visit, Dx: Severe MFI (Varicocele, 14% motility, 3% progression, but normal count)
7/2017 - Stage 3 endometriosis discovered during laparoscopic removal of ovarian cyst
9/27/2017 - BFP at 10dpo (cycle 22), baby boy due June 9, 2018
@doxiemoxie212 I have usually already done my searching on something but I agree I want to hear what other people think too. I wont say much, particularly if I have a difference of opinion, but I still want to get other peoples perspective. I have one mom friend that is a certified know it all and most of the time when she is talking about something I will just nod and then move on to something else. Like she said that socks are bad for babies foot development. I haven't looked into it any further, mostly because I think its ridiculous.
@RatParade GL at your anatomy scan tomorrow! Are you finding out the sex? People will always have opinions about nutrition because their way is obviously the best way and I'm sure you get that a lot being vegan. I've done Whole30 before and while not vegan people really fight me on it.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
How are things going? Pretty good. I was really lucky to not have a ton of nausea in the first tri. Second tri has brought on that lovely congestion but otherwise has been good. I'm still anxious that everything is going okay in there though. I have an appointment tomorrow and I always get really nervous before them. I'm excited to get to hear the heartbeat for the first time though!
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice? Hmmmm... nothing ridiculous yet luckily. I have a couple good friends who just had babies in the last few years so I'm glad I can ask them questions and know I'll get good answers without judgement. I can ask my mom stuff too but honestly it's been 23 years since she had my sister so sometimes she doesn't remember stuff lol.
@doxiemoxie212 which YouTubers have been your favorites to watch about baby/mom stuff? I love watching YT too and am always looking for more recs.
DS born 9/24/2020
@ratparade oh god, the peanut gallery re: veg diets, I can't. It's so absurd to me. DH has a friend who wholeheartedly believes that it's healthiest for humans to eat nothing but meat. Like, bruh, you need vegetables. Vegetables are great. Be less crazy.
@elsie42 I really like Susan Yara and Emily Norris. For product information, I think MBeans is fantastic. From there, youtube suggests random videos that I find really helpful.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
@doxiemoxie212 def going to have to get on YouTube. Of course I go on there and 3 vid later I'm looking at something completely unrelated to anything I'm supposed to be doing. Hey look at these squirrels water skiing!
@Amphibious22 @RatParade no movement here yet. I keep whining to MH and he pats me on the head and says, don't worry, it will be soon. He's right. Hmphhh.
@elsie42 we are lucky to have some good parent friends too. They have been so generous with their time and hand me downs! I have already apologized in advance for all the bugging I will be doing later on.
Me: 32 | DH: 36
Married June 2005
1/2016 - TTC#1
4/2017 - Initial RE visit, Dx: Severe MFI (Varicocele, 14% motility, 3% progression, but normal count)
7/2017 - Stage 3 endometriosis discovered during laparoscopic removal of ovarian cyst
9/27/2017 - BFP at 10dpo (cycle 22), baby boy due June 9, 2018
I'm 17+5
I'm definitely feeling better, but I threw up quite a bit yesterday and today. Going to probably borrow one of the US machines tomorrow at work and check out the babe
Advice...just basics that make sense. Get lots of diapers, rest when baby rests, etc. Nothing new and exciting.
@krashke the thread yesterday made me start looking into daycare too. I was expecting the prices I saw, but my biggest problem is that I work a rotating schedule, so we wouldn't need daycare everyday and we wouldn't need it the same days every week. It seems like the vast majority of daycares won't allow that much flexibility. *sigh*
And I also absolutely agree about the baby fitting into the life routine you have already established. I will say one piece of advice I've gotten a lot (that I forgot to put in my answer because every time someone says it, I internally roll my eyes and ignore them) is that I need a new job once the baby comes. I guess having a job that involves working weekends and holidays must be borderline child abuse based on the way some people react.
Married August 2015
DS born 5/23/2018
TTC #2 July 2020
16+5
Things are better than first tri. I can feel baby kick, which is awesome! Classes start next week, and hopefully the semester will go quick and painlessly.
No advice over here. We have yet to announce the pregnancy aside from our closest family and friends (and work), so no unsolicited advice yet.
Me: 30 | DH: 34 | DSS: 14 | DS: 4
PG #2, EDD 10/12/2023
@Amphibious22 have you looked into an in-home provider? As in, in their home. They might be more flexible and around here they are much more affordable.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
How are things going? Better now. Still have acne, and may have scarring from it being constantly in same area but that's a thing I'll figure out later.
Boobs being dry, so I've had to change lotion I use {now using Charity Pot by Lush}
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice?
Nothing jumps out really. I remember a few comments made - "I get you're excited, but why'd you buy maternity stuff already?" because my back is cold and maternity tanks are useful - but those were more of a 'brush it off'
Another comment is when a friend found out we were only doing a gender reveal for family. "Wow thanks for the invite"
Uhm you can fuck off with your passive aggressive comment. I reiterated that no friends were invited, it was family only {not said - my bff is gonna be on facetime during it}
Only thing I've gotten is comments that weren't necessary like the above 2.
Daycare is so expensive, it's half the reason I quit banking (the other half being that I hated it).
19 weeks on the dot today, so excited to be half way through next week!
Feeling great besides the congestion but it seems to be easing up so I'm wondering if it was just a cold and not pg related. No movement, still wouldn't consider myself "showing" per se.. not enough anyways for me to join in HDBD yet. Maybe next week. I can still technically button my jeans but have switched over to the hair tie trick as it's comfier. I really feel crappy about the way I've been eating/lack of exercise. My mom, sister and I have decided to do our own virtual check ins starting Monday, logging our food diaries and tracking exercise. We all need some accountability! I need to work on the water consumption thing too. Oh, and my AS is scheduled for next Wednesday.
My mom/friends are all relatively quiet and polite and would only really offer advice if I asked for help. My MIL on the other hand keeps telling me what's right and wrong about everything which is fine because I can just choose my battles and humor her since she lives 9 hrs away. DH was her only child that she gave birth to, and she's the type that thinks whatever worked for him is the way it works for all babies. But then she just told me to give her my "best guess" of a due date so she can book a flight and be here for the birth and to help out after. And like, I'm all for my own mom staying to help out because I know my mom is respectful but the fact that my MIL wants to stay scares the crap out of me. The woman has NO boundaries lol. She didn't even ask she just invited herself. I managed to sway her telling her the baby could be late since I'm a FTM and she'd be on her flight home before baby is born. That seemed to hold her off, for now.
@doxiemoxie212 - as far as baby making noise when sleeping, yes they do. But I do not agree with not have them in the room because of that. For me, I became a crazy light sleeper after our first was born, and I think that was a good thing. It helped me respond to his needs (hungry, wet, needed a pacifier) quicker and it was nice having the baby's pack n play within arm's reach of our bed so I could pull the baby in bed with me to nurse and then lay him back down afterwards (our babies didn't sleep in our bed). When he was sleeping through the night and making noises that were just sleeping noises and not him actually waking up, that's when it became a problem for me because I was still a light sleeper, but wasn't needing to actually wake up as often. Also, I was back to work at that point and desperate for sleep. So we moved him to his own room in the crib around 4.5 months. Everyone slept a bit better after that.
@krashke - I think where your friend was coming from is that when the babies first start walking some experts say it's best to let them do it barefoot so they can feel the floor when taking steps, which helps them get a better sense of their surroundings vs. having them start in shoes and not feeling the floor. Not being great for actual foot development? That's a stretch.
First Son - born 2013
Third Son - due June 9, 2018
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
Hadn't felt anything since basically 16 weeks. Then on weekend felt activity in the mornings. Nothing Monday. Tuesday I had a vanilla latte and felt a little kick to the abdomen {yay}
I think since baby is sitting in breech might be when the low amount of movements.
Since then, nothing but we'll see what happens.
First Son - born 2013
Third Son - due June 9, 2018
If I had kept working my job/hours, DH his job/hours, my salary after taxes in nyc literally wouldn’t have covered the daycare we’d need since 9-5 certainly wouldn’t have covered it (and it’s so expensive here, way more than $1500/month). INSANE!
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
@becca_123 your MIL sounds a lot like my mom. She has been a little too much to handle. I love her and I know she's just excited since this is her first grandchild but, like you said, whatever worked for her is clearly the only way to do things. She also wants to come out for the birth, and I'm still trying to find a polite way to say no thank you. She just isn't a very independent traveler and we live 3000 miles away. She also has limited mobility and we live on the second floor. Honestly I would prefer my MIL to be here cause she's such a chill and calming presence.
Married August 2015
DS born 5/23/2018
TTC #2 July 2020
How are things going? Decent. Is there ever a time in pregnancy where there isn't something hurting or feeling sick/not normal? I'm beginning to think not. That's ok, grow baby growwww
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice? Not really, actually. I've gotten the basic pregnancy stuff but nothing memorable, good or bad. No baby advice yet.
@krashke thanks for starting this up again. I too, feel like the baby will just now be a part of our regular plans. Of course, more planning involved and some tweaking, but I have a friend I admire very much. She has 4 boys that she struggled to conceive, her husband is a police officer, and she just totes them around everywhere. They have the most fun Christmas break, summers, weekends. I'm exhausted watching her, to be honest, but she has done this with them since they were babies, so they just go with the flow. Not saying it always works out and goes perfectly, but I really love the way their lives haven't changed much in that sense.
@doxiemoxie212 what an off the wall piece of advice lol I'm not one who follows recommendations unless they make sense to me, but isn't it recommended that babies DO sleep in your room at first? Again, totally not up on all the "supposed to's" but I swear I've heard that.
I am anxiously awaiting movement as well. Everything I think I feel, I shrug off as gas, which is probably what it is anyways, since I have an anterior placenta. Booo.
@Amphibious22 I would definitely look into at home daycares. I actually went to one as a kid and the lady was an angel and is like a second grandma to me. I bet she has had over 100 kids roll through her door throughout past 30 years. Her backyard and basement are a child's dream. She's a parents dream with her patience, kindness, and teaching skills. She has always had kids in her care who's parents have strange schedules, rotate through, have summers off, etc. I need to remember to ask her if she's got room for the babes from 1p-5pm IF my mama doesn't retire by the time I go back to work. She's seriously considering, as she has been ready for a while.
I really can't believe the cost of childcare. That's astronomical. I already have 2 mortgages between my real one and my student loans. I can't imagine having to add a third. I hope everyone finds something that works for their family and their pocketbooks.
Our friends have also said they'll have events start earlier so we could both attend, even if one has to leave early.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
I feel amazing now that the first trimester is over! I have energy to workout, I can eat again, and can stomach *most* smells. I did break my toe a few days ago, so that put a little damper on things, but still managing to get things done. I haven't felt any kicks yet, so I am getting a little anxious about that!
As for advice, my husband and I decided not to find out the baby's sex and people's reactions to that are annoying! It's like they get mad about it, even random strangers. Also, @RatParade I was vegan before getting pregnant and people constantly ask me about that (I actually did start eating eggs and yogurt because for some reason I could stomach them in the first trimester and I couldn't eat anything else--I was loosing too much weight!). I just find it funny because I would never ask anyone about their diet, seams like a weird question!
Nap life.
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
I'm lucky, there's a website that you can view things about home daycares in the area - including pricing.
Married August 2015
DS born 5/23/2018
TTC #2 July 2020
How far along are you?
I'm 16+5 today. The babies are somehow the size of both a pickle and an avocado. WTH baby tracking apps??
How are things going?
Things are going well. I feel mostly normal. I'm still tired early, but have started adding some caffeine back into my life and it has made a world of difference. Had an OB appointment today and my weight is holding steady after the initial 10 lb loss, so fingers crossed I can keep that up! I'm already overweight, so my doc wants me to gain as little as possible.
Has anyone given you and good, useful, funny or just ridiculous advice?
I haven't gotten too much advice. A friend of mine told me I should walk a lot. She's not from NY, so I don't know how she thinks I get around, but trust - I'm walking a lot. I mostly get a lot of weird comments re: the twin thing. I now know if anyone has twins anywhere in their family/friend group because they feel compelled to tell me about it. Well meaning friends offer to introduce me to their aunt/cousin/co-worker who had twins 20/8/4 years ago. While I appreciate it, I'm not sure 20 year old advice will be that helpful. And just because that woman and I are apparently both capable of becoming impregnated with more than one embryo does not mean we'll be friends. It is like when people feel compelled to introduce me to their only other red headed friend - as if that's all it takes to be compatible with someone.
I'm getting all the jealousy feelings from the HDBD thread. I didn't think I'd care when I "popped," but apparently I do. I thought I would be early with twins, but I'm over here totally bumpless. I'm starting to feel like the only pregnant person without a baby bump! Lol!
I did, however, start researching maternity photos in NYC, which I'm almost certain I'm not doing if we have to do them here based on what I found out, but apparently FOR MAY they're almost all full. WTF. I'm sorta bummed because I remembered how pretty all the cherry blossoms will be here at that time, buuuuut $$$$.
I am decidedly NOT doing maternity photos. I want to do family photos (with my fam) while we're in Key West, so that will be the closest I get at 24 weeks.
I DO, however, want to do newborn photos. Have you looked into that at all? I had a friend's wedding photographer offer to do them at a discount, but I think I want someone more experienced with infants.