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botb
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized?
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you?
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?)
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing?
L&D: Once you were in labor, what kinds of things did you do to encourage progression, if any?
First days: Are/were you open to early visitors at home? If not, how soon will/did you allow visitors?
Updates:
Up next:
May 9, 2011: melgrady
May 27, 2011: MadameD517
Re: botb
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized?
Not really sure. We went off BC, 2 months later got pregnant. Miscarried. Then took another month or so and seemed to normalize. Then got pregnant. Miscarried. So I really don't know. I seemed to normalize fairly quickly though.
My cycles normalized right away...I was charting for a little over a year (TTA and then TTC), and had very normal cycles from right away (after being on BCPs about 16 years).
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you?
Spending two weeks of the first tri in Paris was hard b/c I was starving for foods that weren't as easy to come by, and unable to drink hot mulled wine in the Christmas market. I didn't eliminate caffeine, but reduced it, and it wasn't really that hard b/c it didn't really sound good.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?)
Man...a lot of stuff. We bought (or got from friends) our crib, mattress, arms reach co-sleeper, ergo, newborn CD's...annnnd, pretty much registered for everything else. I feel unsure if we'll use our swing. My BFF has the same one, and her boys prefer their other swing (they have 2), but the other one is so plastic-y and gaudy. I am debating just taking the swing off the registry altogether...
Updates: Todd felt the baby kick on Easter Sunday, and again yesterday morning. We made an extensive to-do list the other day, and at the top of the list right now is to begin interviewing and hire a doula. I also heard back from my first-choice photographer and need to send her a deposit for maternity and/or newborn. I always wanted maternity photos, and now that I am pg, I don't entirely feel like I want to take them. But don't want to regret NOT taking them either. Blah...haven't decided.
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? I was so nauseous that I didn't miss my hot coffee. I DID miss diet coke and sushi something fierce.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?) I didn't use the bumbo really at all. I hated one of the carriers we picked, ended up buying a couple others, but still want a different one for next time. I didn't think out our stroller situation well enough, wish I knew then what I know now. Wish we had also picked a different high chair.
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? I bought most of my wardrobe at Destination Motherhood and Target.
L&D: Once you were in labor, what kinds of things did you do to encourage progression, if any? N/A
First days: Are/were you open to early visitors at home? If not, how soon will/did you allow visitors? We had visitors right away. I found that with the support we had in the beginning it was easier to have people over. When our support system went home we tried to space out visitors a bit more.
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized?1 4 months later - when I started IF treatment and was on medication - otherwise they never would have.
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? I don't really drink caffeine except on rare circumstances so that hasn't been hard. The alcohol on the other hand? Brutal. I know I sound like a lush, but I love, love, love wine and it's been really hard not to enjoy it. Foodwise, I pretty picky to begin with, don't eat sushi so I haven't really had to give anything up.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?)Our registry isn't complete, but I need to finish it asap b/c I think my shower invites went out this week. So far I think I'll use everything. We already bought our Bob, but I really want an uppababy vista so I secretly added that to the registry without telling DH and am secretly hoping a family member will get it for me...and then I'll just tell DH it showed up
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? Slowly, a piece or two at a time. Though I only have 1 pair of mat pants and about 4 shirts, and a skirt. I'm still in most of my regular pants, but with the bella band. I need to get another pair or two to last me through the next few months. I have about 4 dresses though b/c those are the most comfy.
Updates:
I posted on the bump that I ended up in L&D yesterday to be monitored after a hard fall. All is good, but it was scary and draining, but I loved the staff and feel a tad less anxious about Labor and delivery now that we know where to go and had a great experience there last night.
Baby is moving a lot - and I think I'm in the third tri on Saturday!
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you?
Initially I got headaches from cutting back on the caffeine. I limit myself to 1 cup a day or soda or coffee.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?) I have not registered, but I am hving 2 showers thrown for us, one by my SIL and one by my sweet coworkers.
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? I had some leftover from DS, but I was pregnant with him from May to January. I had to add some this time around. I buy stuff here and here when I see a deal and I bought some from a Bumpie.
Updates: I passed my GD test, found out I am slightly anemic. I go in for my 3rd try on a 3/d-4/d US tomorrow, LO is not cooperating.
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized? I quit BCPs about 2 years before we decide to TTC because they were messing with my body and emotions too much. It took almost a year for my body to regulate and my cycles to become mostly normal.
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? I haven't really cut back on anything, except alcohol of course. I limit myself to one or two cups of coffee a day, which was tough at work when I really wanted another cup in the afternoon to keep me going during the first trimester and beginning of the third trimester. I still eat all of the supposed no-nos in moderation.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?) We listened to what our friends thought were the most useful items instead of going by the lists we received at BRU and Target, where we registered. We only registered for items we know we will use (unless we have a fussy baby).
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? I built my wardrobe a little at a time. I tried Old Navy, Target, Gap, and Motherhood and liked the Gap's shirts the best out of all of them because they still fit me while the others are too short in front. I never did find a pair of jeans I loved, but I refused to spend too much on jeans. If I have another pregnancy I will probably invest in a better pair of jeans.
First days: Are/were you open to early visitors at home? If not, how soon will/did you allow visitors? We have discussed that we would rather have visitors at the hospital than when we get home and are trying to learn how to live together as a family of three. I just hope people will call and warn us they want to come over instead of just dropping in during the first few weeks.
Updates: The doctor said my cervix is softening, but so far there has been no progress except for baby dropping two weeks ago. Baby just wants to cook longer even though mommy is getting really uncomfortable.
Up next:
May 9, 2011: melgrady (yikes!)
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized?
Haven't been on BC in years
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you?
In all honesty I'm not as worried about it this time around. I got this BFP after the most stressful work week I've had in a long time, and I was fueling on energy drinks, soda and coffee. I was scared because of all the caffeine and went cold turkey off of it and had a killer headache for a week. I waited until 2nd tri, then brought caffeine back because I seriously was falling asleep while driving.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?)
Don't have a registry yet, but we are having a girl and we got rid of a lot of bulky stuff from DC #1 in the move so we will be putting together a registry for our sprinkle
Updates:Have an anterior placenta and holy heck this little girl is beating up my insides. She jumps on my bladder all day and night and it honestly hurts! And even with the strongest kicks I can't feel a thing on the outside. With J the kicks were more against my skin, they didn't hurt and we could feel them on the outside at this point. The dr. said not to expect to ever feel baby girl's kicks on the outside and that makes me sad, I had visions of J feeling her kick
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you?I don't drink that much caffeine normally, so when i want a coke or dr. pepper or something, I don't deny myself. I've probably kept the same intake with a caffeinated beverage 1-2x/week.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?)We didn't have a shower with either pregnancy, so only really registered for things we were willing to buy if family didn't. So, we didn't really have anything that we didn't plan on using.
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing?I hate shopping, so I did it pretty much all at once, and online.
L&D: Once you were in labor, what kinds of things did you do to encourage progression, if any?didn't need to - woke up around 6am with contractions, checked into the hospital around 1pm and was already at 7cm.
First days: Are/were you open to early visitors at home? If not, how soon will/did you allow visitors?Yes. We came home on Friday and I'm pretty sure MIL came over on Saturday. My parents came that Sunday to make us dinner for my birthday.
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized? Mine regulated right away
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? I eliminated caffeine before I was pregnant, but had a few cherry cokes when I had headaches.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?) We registered and got the Puj tub but its not working out for us very well. We borrowed a lot of the bigger items (swing, co-sleeper, etc) and use everything else from our registry
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? I borrowed my sister's entire mat wardrobe and also bought a few items b/c both her boys are summer babies so I needed more winter stuff. I like Gap maternity the best.
L&D: Once you were in labor, what kinds of things did you do to encourage progression, if any? N/A - I was induced so I didn't have to worry about that
First days: Are/were you open to early visitors at home? If not, how soon will/did you allow visitors? We did have early visitors and b/c of the C-section, I think it was necessary. We came home on a Wed, ILs came up for dinner on Thursday, my sisters visited Friday and Saturday, and the next week John went back to work and we had family all week.
ERD 01.16.11
Surviving postpartum depression & OCD one day at a time.
Also experienced antenatal OCD.
Feel free to ask me questions about my experience.
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized? Right away.
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? I was fine- I don't drink anything with caffeine, eat raw sushi, or eat lunch meats, so I really didn't miss anything. I don't even care much for alcohol.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?) The newborn booster for the Boppy is total crap. I figured I'd need it because I have a long torso, but it doesn't stay in place and the shape is all wrong (for us, anyway). For the first few weeks, the Boppy was useless to us, but now that she's bigger, it's perfect. We also registered for that "grass" drying thing for pump and bottle pieces, and I thought it was so great. I haven't even unwrapped it- we just place everything on a dish towel beside the sink.
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? I was lucky to have about 4 plastic bins of clothes loaned to me by two co-workers. But I still bought some of my own clothes. Most items came from either Motherhood or Target. I liked their styles and their prices. Side-ruched t-shirts are the best!!!
L&D: Once you were in labor, what kinds of things did you do to encourage progression, if any? I stayed at home for 5 hours, moving around. But I was only 3 cm when I arrived at the hospital, and once I was on the epidural, progress slowed. We ended up needing Pitocin.
First days: Are/were you open to early visitors at home? If not, how soon will/did you allow visitors? I allowed visitors immediately (one friend arrived 20 minutes after we got home!). It was fun, and most people brought food for us and didn't overstay their welcome. By about 2 weeks in, I was starting to get tired of entertaining (we literally had people come over every day for the first 2 weeks).
Updates: I feel like I've been kind of negative in my reports about H. Although things have been difficult because of colic, we're totally in love with her- she is smiling now, and laughing a little... she makes the funniest faces when she's being burped, and she's so enamored by my husband. We're having a lot of fun with her and it appears that the worst of the fussiness and colic has passed.
PM me for our family/baby blog
Haley Beth ~ March 3rd, 2011
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? I don't drink coffee and don't really care about alcohol so that isn't bad. I switched to a tall Chai tea from a grande, even though both are at fine levels. I'm definitely being healthier, so I haven't had a Pepsi since my BFP, but not because of the caffiene. I get a Pepsi this weekend for my birthday though darnit!
And occasionally thereafter! The biggest thing for me in changing my diet is that I feel AWFUL if I eat too much at once (and too much is way less than it used to be), probably because of how bloated and indigestion-y I am. So I have tried to really know my limit and embrace eating less more often.
Updates: My charting app just told me today that I was pregnant.
I kept temping even after my BFP 10 days ago just to see it on the app and today was my 18th high temp! 
First appointment 3 weeks from yesterday!
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized?
It took a cycle or two. It actually seemed like my cycles were more predictable in the beginning of being off BC than they were in the months leading to my first BFP.
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? I really missed having a Coke guilt free and blue cheese. I've had both here and there since the second tri.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?)
I tried not to register for anything that didn't seem absolutely necessary. I did register for both a Moby and an Ergo carrier because I was unsure of wrapping the baby when either H or I are alone with the baby.
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? I have bought a few pieces at a time, basically as needed. So far the things that I have worn the most have been from Gap or Old Navy. I also bought some non-Maternity layering camis from Costco that have gotten a lot of use. I just bought a size up and they're still long enough to cover my belly, which I can't even say for a lot of maternity tops at this point.
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized?
Mine didn't, I got off in June and conceived in December and I believe I only had 2, maybe 3 cycles during that time. Because of this I was shocked when I got my bfp.
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you?
In first tri it didn't bother me because I wanted nothing to do with alcohol or caffeine, they didn't sound good at all. Now I have been having caffeine on days I feel I really need it (like today!) but I have been staying under the recommended 200mg. I haven't felt restricted from anything really (I've been having pasteurized soft cheese, etc) except alcohol, which has just started to bother me - I could really go for a glass of wine and a margarita!
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?)
We're still working on our registry but I don't think I added anything that I don't think we'll use.
Updates: I started feeling movement this week!
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? no problems, really.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?) since showers are not popular in NZ, i did not register anywhere.
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? maternity clothes here are SUPER expensive, so i got lots of hand-me-downs and then when i went back to CA to visit, i stocked up on stuff from motherhood, target, and old navy.
L&D: Once you were in labor, what kinds of things did you do to encourage progression, if any? i was induced, so to encourage labor i got prostin gel and pitocin...which failed in the end.
First days: Are/were you open to early visitors at home? If not, how soon will/did you allow visitors? we were open to early visitors, but didn't really have any.
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized?
They became regular but not normal right away. I'm on cycle #4 and the previous 3 have been 40 days with O on CD 23-28. I wish they were more "normal" and I didn't have to wait three or four weeks to O!
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized?
Never normalized... cycles were randomly between 6-9 weeks.
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you?
Not a coffee or soda drinker normally, so restricting caffeine wasn't hard at all. Couldn't really eat anything during the first tri. Once my appetite came back in 2nd tri, I was missing italian dried salami
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?)
Mostly basics that were affordable (blankets, pacifiers, etc.). People mostly bought clothes (not on registry) and paired them with some small stuff from the registry. DH and I bought most of the big stuff ourselves (stroller, carseat, crib, etc.).
We did register for a carrier/sling and swing even though those are hit and miss on whether the kid will like them or not. We did receive both, so hopefully she likes them!
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing?
Started off with just buying pants and was able to wear my pre-pregnancy shirts. Then later bought a couple shirts and sweaters as I grew out of them.
ETA: bought most at Motherhood Maternity Outlet.
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized? I think it was about 3 cycles.
We've gotten started on some IF testing. DH's SA was no bueno (as we sort of thought it would be), and there's nothing they can do about that here. So we're bumming a little bit these days. We've probably got two more cycles before DH leaves for 8 months, and we're kind of desperately clinging to the hope that we'll get lucky before then. We shall see...
TTC: If you were on BC, how long after you stopped BC were your cycles normalized? I think I normalized right away. I went off around Christmas because we got a new prescription drug plan, and I couldn't figure it out... so I just decided since we had thought about trying, we'd just be careful.
1st trimester: How are you handling the dietary restrictions? Is reducing/eliminating caffeine hard for you? I am a strong believer of everything in moderation. I still eat sushi, just not tuna, and only from reputable places. I don't eat cold cuts, but I never did... and I try hard to only eat pasteurized cheeses. I do have a coffee most mornings (not in my first trimester) and I have had a few sips of wine and beer along the journey. Not my own glass (or if someone serves me a glass I take a few sips and pass to DH). I am mostly fine with them. I miss the carefree attitude of being able to eat whatever without weighing things. And while I thought I would miss wine more, I actually am being totally German and missing the beer a TON. In fact the smell of wine totally nauseates me.
2nd trimester: What?s on your registry? Did you register for anything you don?t know if you?ll use? (and for those with babies already ? what was on your registry that you didn?t use or didn?t use often?) I have a bunch of cloth diapers on my registry... ok, I did until some very generous friends and family members purchased them for me. Which I will be uber pissed if I don't use. In my mind, I will equate it with total failure. I am fairly certain I will use everything. I had two Nest/bump friends look over the registry with a strong eye and voice so that if I had something crazy or greedy on it they would tell me.
3rd trimester: How did you build you maternity wardrobe, all at once or a piece at a time? At what store did you purchase your favorite and most used maternity clothing? I built it in two shifts of asking on Freecycle and also two free bags on my South Marin mom's board. I bought 2 things that I am keeping, and I have to return a few to ON before it is too late.
L&D: Once you were in labor, what kinds of things did you do to encourage progression, if any?
First days: Are/were you open to early visitors at home? If not, how soon will/did you allow visitors? We are going to allow close family and friends to visit. DH's parents of course and then some close friends. My parents are waiting until I go home to WA in July. I am pretty open to visitors, especially if they'll hold her so I can get some sleep.
updates: Just found out I may (or may not) have been exposed to Parvo/Fifth Disease. So, I get to go have one of possibly 3 blood tests tomorrow.
Married August 22, 2009-TTC #1 since 1/11
Dx PCOS and Hypothyroidism in 2004, SA 5/11-Excellent!
Cycle #1-6-Anovulatory:(
Cycle #7-metformin+clomid+acupuncture-BFP!!!
Beta#1(16dpo)-101, Beta#2(18dpo)-240, Beta#3(22dpo)-1,255
EDD 10-28-12