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?Mamas & Mamas to Be: Weekly Check-in?
Hawaii Nestie Mommies
MauidAims - Kai Adam - 02.16.08
MrsNFB - Sean Patrick - 10.11.08
kauai_luv - Waianuhea - 04.04.09
kshiz - Ella Juliet - 04.04.09
VanceandLori - Brooke Jillian - 05.15.09
Mrs.HulaHunnie - Jaylee Emiko - 06.11.09
Mrs.Ziz - Bella Kailani - 07.24.09
Hawaiian Honey - Matthew Sebron (Matty) - 08.07.09
MrsWinter - Ashton Christopher - 08.14.09
MyDay1708 - Alexa Leilani - 09.09.09
missaloha - Ellery Lin Ka'imilani- 9.13.09
MrsNJSwimmer - William (Billy) - 11.10.09
Trieulam - Kiptyn and Kylie - 11.12.09
MrsPresley - Annalise - 11.12.09
Hawaii Nestie Due Dates
December 2009 - Good luck Teri!
12.12.09 ? Baby ? Hulalove
January 2010
February 2010
2.02.10 - Girl ? MarriedtoMrWright
2.11.10 ? Girl ? Sanae78
2.14.10 ? Baby ? SirenSong
2.23.10 ? Baby ? Mauiwedding08
March 2010
3.18.10 ? Boy ? JaysgirlJulie
3.29.10 ? Baby ? Lola808
April 2010
04.26.10 - Boy - lisakeiko
May 2010
5.3.10 ? Babies ? twins! ? redshoegirl
5.11.10 ? Baby ? liubride510
5.16.10 ? Baby ? inamra
June 2010
6.16.10 ? Baby - rwright5
July 2010
7.28.10 ? Baby - lelekay
Any additions to these lists? Post updated due dates or gender reports here.
(1) What week are you in/how old is your LO?
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
(9) For TTCers: Which cycle are you on? Where in the cycle are you? What, if anything, are you doing to have success TTCing?
(10) For mommies: what's the most unexpected thing about being a parent?
BONUS: PIP of your bump or LO or for TTCers...link to your chart!
Re: ?Mamas & Mamas to Be: Weekly Check-in?
(1) What week are you in/how old is your LO?
she is 3 wks old tomorrow!
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
I am starting to get the hang of things a bit more now... the last of our family just left today so now it is finally just the 3 of us. Annalise slept for a 4 hr block for the first time last night and I was in shock when I woke up and looked at the clock!! let's hope this continues...
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
we just had an appointment today - she weighed 7lb13oz (25th percentile) but her length (20-3/4) and head circumference are in the 50th percentile....she's a pretty skinny baby so those numbers make sense.
her next appt will be at 2 months when she gets her first shots.
(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
all the discharge you get 'down there' throughout pregnancy... I never knew about it before I became PG.
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
when she starts talking
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
working on my birth story.... (getting it done in bits and pieces b/c it is so long)
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
I was working full time but when I go back after my maternity leave I plan to just work part time to supplement our income... we can't really afford for me to be SAHM at this point in time.
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
BF'ing mostly, but I am also slowly starting to pump to save up a freezer stash for when I go back to work
(9) For TTCers: Which cycle are you on? Where in the cycle are you? What, if anything, are you doing to have success TTCing?
(10) For mommies: what's the most unexpected thing about being a parent?
I never knew that BF'ing would be so hard! It gets easier as we go along but I never imagined it being so hard
BONUS: PIP of your bump or LO or for TTCers...link to your chart!
here's a photo from the hospital, when she was 2 days old... I should have more recent pics to post by next week....
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
Jaime, that's a beautiful picture!
I'm an old mama, just jumping in to say I'm planning a slumber party for my little one's 8th birthday!!! Time goes fast. We're having a pool party from 2-4pm. I rented a party room after where the girls can dress up, do karaoke, dance. I'll set up space for them to make jewelry and art. We'll have dinner there, too. After that, we're headed to my house for a movie. Any suggestions? The girls are all 7 or 8 years old (2nd grade). I hope that they have enough to do. I don't have any activities planned for the morning - just breakfast and QUIET time. I know, I'm kidding... they'll be bouncing off of the walls. If I keep them up 'til midnight, maybe they'll sleep in. Right.
Enjoy those sweet little babies... they grow into silly, giggly, energetic kids very quickly.
Newlyweds since 2007
(1) What week are you in/how old is your LO?
23 weeks 2 days
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
Still feeling pretty good and more like my "old" self, except for the growing belly. We went on a 3 hour hike over the weekend, and it felt great to still be able to be active, even though it's at a much slower pace. And the sinus problems are mostly resolved now, so I've been sleeping well.
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
Just saw the OB yesterday and all is well. Next month is the GD test.(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
How different everyone's experience is, and how most people seem to have at least one sort of pregnancy challenge. It's very humbling!
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
Superficially -- Is it a him or a her? And who will he or she look like and act like?
But more importantly -- I'm really eager to feel what it feels like to be a mother, to bring a child into this world, and to know how deep a parent's love really does go.
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
No detailed birth plan. I won't be writing one, just communicating my preferences to DH, who I will trust to be my advocate at the birth. I don't want to overwhelm us with a specific "plan" because who knows how the actual delivery will progress or what will or won't be possible. I also don't want to be disappointed in myself or those around me if my big plans don't come to fruition somehow. I also think my doctor understands my desire for the most "natural" delivery possible, and I don't think that's uncommon or requires a specific set of instructions from me.
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
SAHM for the first 6 months, then working PT. I plan to work half days for two or three days a week, and my mom or in-laws will provide baby care during that time.
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
Planning to breastfeed, but hoping to pump and introduce the bottle early on so baby can also be cared for by DH and our parents.That is SUCH an awesome party plan! I had my sweet 16 at a private karaoke room, and we had a blast dancing and singing and eating. Same thing for part of my bachelorette party night. I'm sure the girls will love it!
(1) What week are you in/how old is your LO? 18 weeks, 3 days.
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share? Feeling...huge. Very ungainly. My center of balance is off now, and it's becoming harder to bend over, get out of a chair, etc.
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up? Big 20 week ultrasound in a week and a half! I'm SO excited!!!!
(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant? Well, I'd say having twins was right up there...
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives? Meeting them! but also, not worrying about something going wrong during pregnancy, like miscarrying or preeclampsia. Of course, I'm sure I'll worry about other things after they're born lol.
(6) Do you have a birth plan? Not an offical one yet. But I saw my new doctor (more on that later) yesterday, and was greatly relieved that he's very supportive of trying to keep things as natural and interference-free as is safely possible - a lot of docs are still a bit cut happy with twins, and although I won't hesitate in the slightest to do a C-section if we need to, I'm happy that my doctor is willing to look at other options first.
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation. Full time job. We're still working out the childcare - it's hard to get into a daycare with one child here, let alone two, so we'll probably have to do in-home care with a private provider.
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?) Breastfeeding for 6 months (as Pregosaur readers know, my allergies are just to severe to deal with again next year), probably pumping at the same time so they are accustomed to bottles so Ben can help feed them. At least, that's the plan - I'm not naive enough to think that there isn't a chance I'll be forced to bottle feed.
I hope to do this too, but keep in mind that most lactation consultants do not recommend introducing the bottle until at least 3-4 wks (allows the baby to really learn how to latch on and avoids nipple confusion), and preferably not until 6-8 wks after you have fully established your supply. it's been hard not having the convenience of others helping feed her, esp during the middle of the night, but I am trying to stick it out....
Jaime & Brent
Oahu, Hawaii | Sept. 9, 2005
My Food Blog - Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats
Good point! I'm just hoping to have him/her accustomed to the bottle before trying to go back to work, which is at 6 months. Maybe I will shoot for introducing it around 6-8 weeks as has recommended to you.
I teach the musical "Annie" to my third graders each year, and then we watch it. It quickly becomes a favorite of all the kids (even the boys!) It's something a lot of kids these days haven't seen. I show the 1997 Disney version, though (with Alicia Morton), it's more modern and less scary (I was always scared at the end of the original when I was little!). If your daughter hasn't seen it, I highly recommend it!
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?Monday is first appointment and ultrasound! I can't wait!!! (4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant? No real surprises yet. (5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?Well, before they arrive really, but I'm dying to know the gender! I have a long time to wait, though....
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share? Feeling better everyday. Got off "grounding" yesterday - I can drive now! YAY! Still another week until I can lift anything heavier than the baby. Also have a weird (what we think is an) internal stitch coming through my outer incision - my mom (a nurse) said it's probably ok, so I won't do anything about it until I see the OB at my 6 (7) week appt.
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up? 2 month appt for first shots
OB appt after Christmas (should be the week before but the Dr is on vacation) at 7 weeks
(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant? All the different things that can happen to you - the mask, the gas, etc, and how many things don't happen to everyone - how different everyone's pregnancy is - for those pg, I definitely recommend the Girlfriend's Guide to Being Pregnant by Vicki Iovine!
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives? Being able to meet him and hold him... and you really have no idea how your life will change... or how hard the first few weeks are (maybe less so if you don't have a c-section)
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story? Well, let's see, this is probably a whole post, but here goes. My water broke at 1:30am, I called the dr b/c of the discoloration in it - I knew there was meconium in it. We got to the hospital at 2:30-3, and since I was only 1cm dilated, they started the pitocin at 6am. At 8:30 I got an epidural, and we slept from 9am-noon. Then the contractions started getting worse - at 3pm, I was about 5cm, and by 4:30 I was 9.5cm, and they wanted me to try to push the last 1/2 cm open. During the afternoon I mostly labored in bed, but I did go in the shower for about an hour, and that felt really good. So I pushed until 6:30, and the pressure was really unbearable, and I was doing nothing but making a bruise on his head apparently. The L&D nurse thought I was making progress, and she and DH kept telling me I was "almost there"... and I called them out on it - told them "you have been telling me that for the last HOUR!" ... and then the dr came in and checked me, and said I was still only 9.5, and that we would need to do a c-s soon - I asked how soon we could do it, b/c the epidural couldn't counter the pressure I was feeling, and I really couldn't push anymore - it really was an athletic feat! So they prepped me for the OR and we were in there soon, and he was born about 30 minutes later. The OR story in itself is funny - I'll have to post that later.
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation. FT job. DH will provide childcare during the day since he is going back to school - taking classes in the evening.
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?) had planned to breastfeed, but it didn't work out
long story.
(10) For mommies: what's the most unexpected thing about being a parent? how much you can care about someone else's poop! But seriously, how much you can LOVE this little creature!
BONUS: PIP of your bump or LO or for TTCers...link to your chart!
from today: ok, I tried this several times and it's still not working. UGH. See the blog.
(1) What week are you in/how old is your LO?
29w6d
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
Feeling pretty much the same, but starting to have a hard time breathing - I have to sit straight up. Nothing new really.
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
Went to the doc yesterday and will go back in 3 weeks. I thought it would be 2 weeks but I guess since I've had pretty much the most uneventful, low risk pregnancy you can imagine, she's not concerned about seeing me so often yet. I'm guessing it'll be 2 weeks after the next one because I'll be almost 33 weeks then.
(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
That I still have such body image issues. I thought I'd really embrace the bump and boobs, but not so much. Maybe it's because I didn't really look pregnant until the last couple of weeks. I still kind of just looked chubby. But I am still really worried about losing the weight after baby comes.
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
Seeing my hubby with her. I know it's going to melt my heart!
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
I would like to labor at home for as long as possible but I'm pretty sure I'm going to want an epidural because I'm a wuss, too. Haha. I want to try to BF as soon as possible after delivery and do the skin-to-skin contact stuff. Also, no Hep B shot.
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
Still undecided. Hoping to work part-time or per diem (couple days/month), but depends on what's available when I'm ready to go back to work. If I can't find something, I may just not work until I find a PT or per diem position at the hospital I want to work at.
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
Same as Melissa & Jaime - BF & pump so the hubby can help out with feeding eventually.
Agreed with both of these! I've never worn so many pads in my life!
YES, you will! Is he breathing enough times/minute? Why hasn't he pooped in 2 days?? Is that ok? What's that mark/pimple/red spot on his face/back/etc? Is he sleeping enough? Why isn't he crying much (first 2 days)? Why is he crying so much? Is he eating enough? Am I feeding him too often? Am I feeding him when he's tired and I'm just reading his clues wrong? Am I going to make him fat? Why won't he latch on? Will bottle feeding make him less immune to everything? Can I take him outside without exposing him to bad germs? Is it ok to let people visit who havne't had their H1N1 shot?
ok, you get the point. I'll stop, LOL.
(1) What week are you in/how old is your LO?
LO is 6 months
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
Nothing new...
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
Brooke has an upcoming dr. appointment for her follow up H1N1 shot
(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
The comments people say (Oh, you're so big! You look like you're ready to pop!) and how there seems to be no social filter once you're PG ..
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
I was most looking forward to seeing what she looked like (superficial, I know)
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
Nothing big or exciting-- water broke at 4:30 am, went to the hospital... took the epidural about 12:00pm. Didn't experience any pain at all until I started pushing at around 5:30 ish, baby came out at 7:35pm.
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
Stay at home mom. Finished my master's in May (on Monday, had Brooke on friday!), but thanks to the economy, there are no jobs in the field I graduated in... I am SUPER thankful for this as I get to experience all of Brooke's 'firsts'
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
EBF... she just started taking a bottle about a month ago.
VERY STRESSFUL!
(9) For TTCers: Which cycle are you on? Where in the cycle are you? What, if anything, are you doing to have success TTCing?
(10) For mommies: what's the most unexpected thing about being a parent?
How protective I am! I am super laid back about everything in life & was so sure I'd be really laid back about parenting, but I am pretty protective (well, in my opinion) and sometimes feel like "that mom." Also how much I love being a SAHM...
BONUS: PIP of your bump or LO or for TTCers...link to your chart!
There are pictures in my blog
CLICK for blog
I just looked at your new posts - I can't believe how light her hair is! Wonder if it'll stay that way. That would be cool.
My cousin's hapa kids have pretty light hair and it's so cute!
(1) What week are you in/how old is your LO?
31 weeks and 1 day
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
Feeling good...getting used to doing insulin shots twice a day and testing blood glucose 4x/day. It's true...2 weeks to establish a new habit. One plus? Permission to eat ice cream every.single.night.
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
I see the GD Dietitian tomorrow...OB/GYN on the 9th and endocrinologist on the 23rd.
(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
That I haven't gained that much weight. It was my goal not too, but I was afraid that I would have really packed it on.
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
Just getting to know her...see what she looks like of course and what her personality will be. I also cannot wait to see her in my DH's arms!
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
Yes, we just gave it to our doctor. Basically as intervention and medication-free as possible. The goal is to have healthy baby, of course, but I'd love to avoid a c-section at all costs and prefer to avoid induction and the epidural as well.
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
Full-time after 8 weeks home and then transitioning back, bit by bit with a combo of work-from home a few hours a day and in the office part-time over 9 more weeks. Since DH is a full-time student he's arranged his schedule for next semester to be late afternoon and evening classes. That way when I do go back to work full-time he'll be able to be home with her during the mornings and early afternoons and I'll be home in the late afternoons and evenings. We also have my mom for back-up and help. Once DH is in clinical rounds (next Fall) we'll do daycare for about 10 hours a week (2 days/5 hours each).i
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
The plan is to breastfeed/pump for at least a year. If for some reason she cannot latch or something I am willing to try exclusively pumping. But I hope that she takes to the breast and then, when I go back to work, takes bottles of breastmilk when I cannot nurse her.
(9) For TTCers: Which cycle are you on? Where in the cycle are you? What, if anything, are you doing to have success TTCing?
(10) For mommies: what's the most unexpected thing about being a parent?
BONUS: PIP of your bump or LO or for TTCers...link to your chart!
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice!
I just wanted to chime in. If the baby doesnt latch and you think you are doing everything right, see a lactation consultant ASAP. When I finally got around to seeing one, we found out Kai was tongue-tied and he wasn't able to latch properly. At that point, I was trying to BF, pumping every 2 hours, supplementing with formula and eventually lost my supply. He did get snipped for his tongue (its heridetary-thanks DH) and found out later it really could have caused speech problems.
LO is 5 months and 4 weeks today..
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
Jaylee has cut her first tooth!!! It had hurt BFing for a couple days and I couldn't figure out why.. Well I stuck my finger in and yep there it was. Poor thing is crying out in pain when she's sleeping at night..
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
We have her 6 month check up next Friday. Hopefully they still have the H1N1 vaccine at that time
(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
How every pregnancy is different and that people are the most unsensored with pregnant women.
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
I'm looking forward to her saying "Mama"
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
I was induced since I was a week late. Check in Wed. night got the cervadil then started the pitocin Thursday am... waited and waited turned up the pitocin, back labored for 8 hours. She wasn't coming on her own, only dialated 5cm. they decided to do a c-section but wanted to check me one last time and low and behold I was 9 1/2 cm. I started to push at 8:45 and at 9:25 we welcome the most beautiful baby girl..
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
I work a full time job (7-3) Currently a family friend watches Jaylee along with a 2 month old and her 3 year old granddaughter.. It was a godsent for us. I had told my hubby not even a month before we found out we were preggy that I didn't want to start trying until we had childcare set for sure. The family friend volunteered .
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
BF, but I had the hardest time with it in the beginning.. Funny thing is we used a nipple sheild because she had the hardest time latching on, and here we are almost 6 months later still using it. Some Lactation Consultants tell you in can hurt your supply but I want to say it did the opposite for me. I have been over producing and finally my supply has calmed down..
(
(10) For mommies: what's the most unexpected thing about being a parent?
I gotta agree with Lori on this one. I am super overprotective when it comes to her. I call the pedi for EVERY little thing (oh no she coughed, she has a temp of 99.1.. call ...call call) Well that and the unbelieveable amount of love I have for her..
BONUS: PIP of your bump or LO or for TTCers...link to your chart!
Our newest pic is in my siggy. We took some pictures for our Christmas card that is one is the winner
Let me say that we introduced the bottle at 4 weeks since I was returned to work at 7 weeks. We had no problem at all. I have heard that sometimes if you wait too long to introduce the bottle the baby will have an even harder time taking it...
LMAO this is the nice thing about needing to gain more weight, too - I get ice cream eeeeeevery day!
The lactation consultant at our pediatrician's office STRONGLY recommended that we introduce the bottle at THREE weeks, not more. She said that would give the baby enough time for bfing to be established and the latch to be learned but early enough that she would still take a bottle if offered. If you wait too long, they might reject the bottle.
So.... I would ask your lactation consultant or pediatrician about this. We followed her instructions and Alexa took the bottle easily, with no problem. We continue to give her a bottle a couple times a week so she doesn't forget it and she has not had a problem at all.
I would point out that my friend's baby, who is the same age as Alexa, has been given a bottle every day since birth and she also has had no problem with bfing or nipple confusion.
Both of our babies are, what the Baby Whisperer would call "Textbook" (Alexa) or "Angel" babies (My friend's baby) so that probably plays into it as well. A "sensitive" or "grumpy" or "spirited" baby might have a harder time taking the bottle, no matter when you introduce it........ Still, check with your doctor.
Malia & Dave & Alexa
Happily married since 2-17-08! Three since 9-9-09!
Baby Blog
Alexa is 12 weeks! So, I am out of the "4th trimester"!! Can't believe she'll be 3 months next week!! (2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
Feeling great. Still not in my pre-pregnancy jeans, which sucks. My hips widened and my pre-preg pants are size 0 and 2 so I am beginning to wonder if it will ever be biologically possible for me to get into them again. That has been a little depressing. But Alexa has been taking good naps, sleeping well, especially in her crib, so I am rested and very happy about that! (3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
4 month appointment is in January. Exciting stuff: We are going to make handprint/footprint stuff at a pottery store with my mom's group tomorrow! And baby yoga on Friday! And I just registered us for 6 Itsy Bitsy yoga sessions starting in January! Plus my family is coming for Christmas! (4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
Everything... Still amazed that the thing in my belly is now my beautiful baby! (5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
Every day with her... But I can't wait for her to walk and talk! Still, I'd like her to stay a tiny baby forever too. Ha! (6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
We had a general birth plan, but it went out the window. I was induced when Alexa was 1 week late. I went in the night before for gel and by 7am the next day had gone from 1cm to 3cm. My doctor then broke my waters and started the Pitocin. By 4pm, no progress with the Pitocin, so we elected to move to a c-section instead of increasing the Pitocin doseage, which could have put Alexa in distress and still led to a c-section, but an emergency one. She was born at 5:14 p.m. (7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
I will return to work Feb. 24. Total time off will be 25 weeks, or about 6 months. That includes 1 week of vacation when she was late, 8 weeks of disability and the 16 weeks of Family Leave, so the whole time is protected under DC law. Only 11.5 weeks are paid. The rest is unpaid. I will return to work full time, with a gradual re-entry so that I work 3 days/wk, 3 days/wk, 4 days/wk, then 5 days/wk and so on.
I never thought I'd want to stay home but now I sort of do... But we'll see how I feel later. Still, it is financially necessary that I do work. At least for now. We'll see what make sense if we have a 2nd child or if my DH gets a new job (he's interviewing). We are on the waitlist for daycare at my DH's office and another place in Bethesda. If neither comes thru by the time we need daycare, then my mom will fly out and stay with us until we do get into daycare. (8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
Exclusively bfing. I pump and freeze also and we give her a bottle about twice a week to keep her used to it. I plan to BF the whole time I am out on leave (about 6 months) and then pump when I go back. I am hoping to make it to 1 year, but we'll see how it goes once I get back to work. I would be happy if I just make it to 6 months. (10) For mommies: what's the most unexpected thing about being a parent?
That it's not as hard as I thought it was going to be. I thought I'd have a screaming baby and be house-bound and in a fog and basically that llife as I knew it would end. But... It has been enjoyable and I have been able to get out and I am not unable to do regular things again. It's just different, not impossible. BONUS: PIP of your bump or LO or for TTCers...link to your chart!
New pics up on my blog!
Malia & Dave & Alexa
Happily married since 2-17-08! Three since 9-9-09!
Baby Blog
Wow, so many opinions! Guess I will revisit this more closely as the due date approaches... and adjust based on my baby's temperament. All good to know!
Why is it that in DC you get 16 weeks when the rest of us only get 12?
39 weeks and 1 day
(2) How are you feeling? Any new milestones or news in the last week to share?
I'm still feeling pretty good. I'm feeling ready for the baby and excited. I'm really trying to not drive myself crazy with constantly wondering when it's going to happen so I've been keeping really busy.
(3) Next appointment date? Any big ultrasounds/other exciting stuff coming up?
At my midwife apt yesterday the baby was posterior so I'm trying to sleep (when I can sleep) on my left side. If I don't have the baby by next weeks apt I've asked my midwife to do an internal and see if I'm dialated at all.(4) Biggest surprise about being pregnant?
The range of emotions I can go through in a day.... my hormones and emotions were crazy throughout the pregnancy.
(5) Thing you're/you most looking/ looked forward to once your LO arrives?
I'm so excited to find out if we're having a boy or a girl. I want to see what he or she looks like. I can't wait for Russ to hand him or her to me. My heart is nearly bursting thinking about it!
(6) Do you have a birth plan? For mamas, birth story?
We wrote out things we want for our birth, but feel really comfortable that our caregivers know what we want. My perfect birth story would be one where I have a health baby at the end and I haven't been to beaten up
(7) Stay-at-home mom, work-at-home mom, part-time job, full-time job? Share your work and childcare situation.
I will stay at home for a year and then determine what our plan is near the end of the year.
(8) Breastfeed, formula feed, pump and bottle feed, or some combo? (For PG ladies, what are you planning and for mamas, what are you doing?)
Planning to EBF.Married Bio
Why is it that in DC you get 16 weeks when the rest of us only get 12?
If you have been at your job for at least a year (when your maternity leave starts), you're supposed to get 4 months family leave. That's federal law, so it should apply to you too...
Edit: Sorry, my bad. You're right, it *is* 12 weeks for federal law. Yeah, DC is special (http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/fmla/dc.htm)
Yes, I have found this out the hard way too. $3K and a year of my life getting zapped every 6 weeks only to have it all cruelly come back now that I am pg. Of course the medispa never mentioned that as a possibility when they signed me up. I totally would have waited because now I have to do it all.over.again. *sigh* I might just consider electrolysis next time since I think it's more permanent than laser hair removal. ARG.
TTC/PG Blog | Mommy Blog
Good to know! Glad I didn't do it yet!
Just reading posts quickly before bed. Introduce the bottle at 3-4 weeks!! We introduced it at 5 weeks just so she could get used to it (our plan was once a day or every other day) and she was SO good at breastfeeding that the bottle gagged her and she refused it. We never give her a bottle now if I'm around, only if I'm working or at yoga. But if I'm with her, she gets the boob
I was SO worried about nipple confusion but with the next kid (someday!) I'll give it at 3 weeks.