Labor and delivery

Hey girls! Hope everyone is feeling good - just wanted to fill you guys in on how labor went since most of you asked. My water broke around 11:00 on Sunday night, and they always tell you it's only going to be a little bit of fluid, but they lie!! It was gushing everywhere and dripping down my leg as I ran to the bathroom, I couldn't believe it! My contractions hadn't started, so when we got to the hospital they started me on pitocin. By 4-5 cm, the contractions were pretty strong and painful, so I decided to get an epidural. This is a miracle drug!! I fell asleep and couldn't feel anything until I was 9 cm dilated around 10 AM. Then I could start feeling a little something at the top of each contraction. My midwife let me stay fully dilated for about an hour and so the baby had moved pretty low and was ready to come out. I pushed for about 15 minutes and she came right out! Now that we're home, I'm really enjoying spending time with her. I'm definitely sleep deprived, but it hasn't been as bad as I was imagining. By the way, I posted a pic with her in a sling (this one is by Hotslings). I would highly recommend registering for one, it lets you have your arms free so you can get stuff done around the house, or eat, or whatever, plus it's comfortable and cute!

Maybe a girl?

Hi, everyone! I had my big ultrasound on Friday, and I couldn't get a definite answer on whether we're having a boy or a girl. The tech didn't see any boy parts, but she also didn't see the 3 lines that say for sure you're having a girl. She thought that it was probably a girl, but not to go out and buy all pink stuff. So I guess that we're going to have a surprise when the baby is actually born. I think that it's really funny that we're all having girls (assuming that mine is a girl too). We like the name Sydney Adrienne for a girl, but we're keeping it a secret from our families so that we don't hear stories about someone not liking the name or not liking someone with the name Sydney. Now I need to start shopping for all green and yellow clothes!

Congratulations Kasia on a girl!! I know what you mean though I only know women having girls and no boys! Where are you moving to? I love the name too!! We are thinking Riley Elizabeth! I just started my third trimester and I swear I get bigger every day!! I'll attach a new picture next time!!
We officially move in 2 days!! I'm not ready for the 13 hour car ride but I'm excited to get to our new house!!

What is in the water?

OK, Ilian - you're left. If you're also having a girl, then I swear, something must be in the water killing off the male sperm, because now, including myself, I know 9 women who are scheduled to deliver between August and December, and so far, not one of them is having a boy! We're thinking Claire Elizabeth. We'll see how many times we change our minds!
Anyhow, my movers came to Cinci today. I am now down here until the end of the month with two suitcases, my computer, and an aerobed. Of course, I also kept my mini-tv, because I couldn't possibly go more than 48 hours without turning that on! We're redoing the house that we're moving into, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they will finish the floors in time to at least put all my furniture down!
Hope all is going well with everyone!

Movement

Hi, everyone! I think that I started to feel the baby move around 17 weeks. It felt like little muscle twitches in my abdomen. I don't feel them very consistently, but I get little bursts of them a few times a day, usually. I think that it's the baby moving--I guess that I'm not quite positive, but I can't imagine what else it would be! I heard that most people start feeling the baby move around 20 weeks with their first baby, but it can take longer if you have an anterior placenta because that muffles the kicks. I have my big ultrasound this Friday, so hopefully I can let everyone know if we're having a boy or a girl afterwards! Megan, good luck with your move! North Carolina seems like a really nice place to live. I'm attaching a belly pic of me 2 weeks ago at 18 weeks.

Hello!!

Hey girls,
Sorry I have been missing :) We are in contract on a house and I'm just trying to get everything ready and in order for the big move day which is July 31st!! We are moving to Rutherfordton, NC. My husband got a job at the hospital there! So lots going on here!! i had to go about finding new doctors and pediatricians, what fun :)
I felt movement around 22 weeks, that is when I knew for sure what the movement was. I might have felt something earlier but didn't know what it was :) But for sure at 22 weeks I knew! I think I'm a later person to feel something, most are around 20 weeks.
I hope everyone is doing well!!
Val - keep us updated on your new arrival!!!

Movement

That's great, Val! Things are moving forward! I hope you're still able to come to dinner this week - we were hoping the baby would have still delayed her arrival! Are you feeling prepared for the inevitable at this point?
Question for everyone: when did you start feeling fetal movement?

The baby dropped

Hi girls!
Well the baby dropped about a week and a half ago. My midwife said that usually happens about 4 weeks before you deliver, so I think the baby will be coming the last week of July or the first week of August. It was a relief because it's easier to breathe now without her pressing on my ribs, but now I have to go to the bathroom all the time.

On Tuesday I had an ultrasound so they could make sure there is enough amniotic fluid since my uterus was measuring small by a few cm. They told us that the baby is already 5lbs, 13 oz, and is supposed to gain half a lb a week now - which means she could be 8-9 lbs!! I'm hoping she comes a little early just so I have a smaller baby to give birth to.

I'm definitely showing now

I think that I'm officially showing. I had my orientation for my new job today, and 2 people I'd never met made comments about my pregnancy without my mentioning it first. They didn't even ask if I was pregnant, it was more like, "Oh, you're pregnant." The nice thing about having a visible baby belly was that I felt justified in taking the last piece of pizza at our orientation lunch. I'm attaching a picture from a week ago when Dave and I were in Charleston, SC. I don't think that my belly is showing much in this picture, though, but trust me--it's there!

Pregnancy symptoms

Kasia, I remember them mentioning ab separation in one of my prenatal workout videos but I haven't experienced it. Here's what they say about it on the What to Expect When You're Expecting website:
www.whattoexpect.com/index.aspx?puid=ccbaadfb-bc5c-4d35-af59-a19ed15658fb&p=1

Megan, I really haven't had issues with swelling except for one night that was really hot and humid and we went for a walk and my hands and feet felt swollen. I'm really diligent about trying to drink 6-8 glasses of fluids a day though, which is supposed to combat swelling.

I just started (actually I'm about halfway through because it's a quick read and really interesting) "Green Babies, Sage Moms" which is about choosing chemical-free and organic options for your baby. If you're interested in being "green" I would highly recommend it.

As of tomorrow I have 7 weeks to go until my due date which is starting to freak me out! A lot of our friends have had their first babies 4-6 weeks early so I'm going to pack my hospital bag this weekend just in case!!

Hello

Hey there!!! Val you had a great idea for a wedding dress, I wish I would have thought of what you did! I went to Macy's and got a maternity dress for a wedding this weekend... yours is way cuter and you looked cute!!

Kasia- I have never heard of what you are getting...sorry. Love the picture of you and your husband in wine country!! We love it there too!!

I am worried about swelling especially in the coming months... Val have you had any yet??

Diastasis Recti

Please help!! I noticed a slight separation between my abdominal muscles this weekend, when I pressed on my belly button. I have heard this gets worse? I am only at 14 weeks. Did this happen to you all? If so, when? If not, should I be doing specific ab exercises to prevent this? I have started on a massive exercise regimen now, because I read that this can persist to being up to two fingers in width??? HELP!!!

Info from our emails

Here is the website where you can check inspections on Ohio daycares: http://jfs.ohio.gov/cdc/childcare.stm

Here are the prenatal DVDs I was telling you guys about if you're interested in working out:
Prenatal Yoga with Shiva Rea
The Perfect Pregnancy Workout - created by a member of Cirque du Soleil

Here are the books to help you figure out what Baby Gear to buy/register for:
Baby Bargains by Denise and Alan Fields (7th Ed)
Consumer Reports Best Baby Products (9th Ed.)

Pregnancy Books:
Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade B Curtis and Judith Schuler
What to Expect When Expecting (goes by months)

UPromise Info:
It's a free program where you can earn some money for your child's college fund by linking up your grocery store bonus cards, drugstore cards, and credit cards. Then, when you buy certain products, eat at certain restaurants, or shop at certain stores or certain online retailers, you get a contribution to your Upromise account. It's a small contribution (for example, just 1% of whatever you spend at Bed Bath & Beyond), but I guess the idea is that it adds up over time, plus you can get your family members to also link up their cards. You don't need to set up a 529 plan yet and you can still earn money (I started up a Upromise account years ago) and the money will never expire. When you eventually start up a 529 plan, you can link it your Upromise account and then Upromise will automatically transfer the money to your 529 plan whenever you hit whatever the minimum contribution is for your 529 plan. The website is www.upromise.com.

Safe Plastics/Chemical-Free websites:

1. Bottles - amomsblog.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/bpa-free-bottles-and-sippy-cups/
2. Pacifiers/Teethers - safemama.com/2008/01/04/bpa-free-pacifiers-and-teethers-cheat-sheet/ AND thesoftlanding.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/bpa-and-phthalate-free-pacifier-guide/
   
3. Personal Care - www.ewg.org/featured/14

Due Dates:
Val - August 14
Julia - beginning of October?
Megan - October 23
Ilian - December 8
Kasia - Christmas time

Starting the Homestretch

Hey Ladies!
When I have some time I'll probably start posting some of the pregnancy info we were emailing around so it's easy to find. My due date is August 14, so right around the corner! We just signed up for cord blood banking this week through the Cord Blood Registry, so that's one thing crossed off of our list. Here is a picture of us at a wedding last weekend. I didn't even have to buy a maternity dress, just a stretchy empire-waist. We're pretty lucky that everything is long and empire-waist right now!

Kasia - 3 months ago

Hey, there! You look fabulous, Megan! The funny part about the entire group of us is that even at 9 months, I think we will all still be thinner than the majority of the US population! I am merely pudgy right now, so I posted a picture of my husband and I from San Francisco - the wine country vacation at the end of March that started this whole journey....

Megan's due date

Hey everyone!! I'm due on October 23rd so maybe a Halloween baby. Here is a recent picture of me. Also we are thinking of the name Riley for our little girl. Maybe a different spelling but we'll see!!