MTBT (Mom to be Thursday!) 1/7/2021

[corgimom]

Happy New Year, everyone! Hope everyone is doing well!

1. How far along are you? Team?

2. Rants, raves, feelings?

3. Are you doing a theme for your nursery?

4. What do you do with all the baby stuff? Share your organizing tips!

[tacom]

Happy New Year!

1. How far along are you? Team? 24 weeks & 4 days.

2. Rants, raves, feelings? Feeling pretty good physically. I was having a Crohn's flare earlier in second trimester that seems to be resolving without extra treatment and I'm so grateful! Going in for iron studies today to see if I need an iron infusion.

3. Are you doing a theme for your nursery? I've actually never designed a nursery. We have baby rooms but they're painted neutral colors and decorated pretty plainly. We have more color and visual interest in the playroom.

4. What do you do with all the baby stuff? Share your organizing tips!: I like to hang all clothes in the closet, organized by size, before the baby gets here so I can see it all. Then when baby is here I'll leave all of the nicer outfits (that are honestly rarely worn) hung and move some onesies, sleep sacks, gowns, etc to the master bedroom, which is where baby lives anyways for the first few months.

We otherwise don't have a lot of "stuff" for the newborns - all newborn toys can fit in one basket, and I have a few diaper/wipe/basic hygiene stations throughout the house. I like rolling carts and pretty baskets to keep it contained but to still allow for easy access. I haven't figured out a good solution for storing baby carriers/wraps yet that makes them easily accessible but not looking cluttered.

Toddler "stuff" containment is a whole different story though! That takes daily work, constant rotation and purging.

[corgimom]

1. How far along are you? Team?

37w, 5d - Team pink!


2. Rants, raves, feelings?

I'm starting to feel like it could be anytime now! But also finally feel like we are almost ready. We got the dresser for new baby yesterday so DH needs to build that and we decided to keep DD1's glider chair in her room so I ordered another for DD2 and it should arrive next week! I'm going to the store this weekend to grab the last few things we'll need after baby arrives, mostly bottles/milk bags for when I start pumping but a few other small odds and ends.


3. Are you doing a theme for your nursery?

DD1's room is sort of woodland animal themed - light sage walls, grey furniture and lots of animal lovies. All her sheets have trees or cute little bunnies, bears, dear, hedgehogs, etc. Didn't go crazy on the theme but it's been growing well with her. 
DD2's room is sort of... sky themed? lol We painted the walls a tealy-blue, white furniture and lots of rainbow art, cloud shelves, star pillows, etc. I call it a sort-of theme, but it has also been easy to find things that "go".


4. What do you do with all the baby stuff? Share your organizing tips!
I wash and sort baby clothes by size and each size goes in a drawer. We also have 3 changing stations with diapers, wipes, A&D and diaper genies - The changing table in her room, downstairs in the living room and our room for motn newborn changes.

I'm always at a loss of what to do with all the feeding things. I BF DD1 when I was home but had to pump at work and there are sooo many bottles and nipples and pump parts - I felt like I could never store them well! I'm using a different cabinet this time that is bigger so I'm going to buy some bins to help sort things and I hope that helps it feel less overwhelming and messy, lol!

tacom I'd love playroom ideas! We turned our from room into our office/playroom. We have tons of storage (thanks cube organizers!) but it's so... plain!
I also love the idea of having sleep sacks and onsies in our room - It's so simple but I literally never thought of that, brilliant!

[lovesherheels]

1. How far along are you? Team?
36+6 w/DS2.

2. Rants, raves, feelings?
I'm just totally overwhelmed with work and new baby. But that's normal. And I'm achy/tired/etc., like everyone at this point. My DH has been really cute about feeling this one move around -- we couldn't feel DS1 as well because of my placental placement -- so he's been really into that. But I'm tired of being pregnant, and my eye is keenly on my c-section date of 01/27.

3. Are you doing a theme for your nursery?
We're doing a travel theme. I've really waited till the last minute to put this sucker together, though, so I'm hopeful that after this weekend (when I get more decorations and stuff up) it'll feel more like a nursery in there. Right now it feels like a theme of "we'll figure it out later."

4. What do you do with all the baby stuff? Share your organizing tips!
I don't have any. So ... don't look here for that lol.

tacom -- I hope you're feeling better! Hopefully they'll be able to make a good assessment so you feel well.

corgimom -- Final countdown! I hope you're feeling well in these final days.

[corgimom]

lovesherheels - Yes! You're in the final stretch, too!

I'm feeling okay but I met the other midwife at my practice for the first time yesterday in case she is on call while I'm in labor. She seemed fine but then asked when my last ultrasound was, which was of course right after 20 weeks. She said my fundal height was small for my gestational age and she wanted me to get an ultrasound yesterday to make sure baby was growing fine. Okay, whatever - I had to do this with DD1, too. I told her that and said that DD1 was born 5lbs 9oz at 4 days late and she's still 1st percentile but her pediatrician isn't worried because she grows and is healthy. ... Her response? "That's not normal"
I got the ultrasound and baby seems to be in the 51st percentile and should be 6-8 lbs (which they told me the same with DD1, lol!) but her comment sort of turned me off. So what if my kids aren't "normal" sized? My toddler is totally healthy and her doctor has no worries. Ugh. So now I'm waiting for the radiologist report and I'm going to call my normal midwife so I can ask her, wtf? Because, wtf!?

[achi]

1. How far along are you? Team?

31+4. Team blue!

2. Rants, raves, feelings?

I was feeling ok about everything, and then yesterday it all hit the fan. H's work had a positive COVID case and their HR/Health & Safety/Management team is useless at enforcing their COVID protocol. They did send close contacts home, but it freaked me out. Elementary schools were supposed to go back on Monday, but they've now extended the closure for that for another 2 weeks. DS1 is at daycare with our before/after provider so H and I can both be at work (both our companies are essential) but I have to try to do some online school with him in the evening. Last year they closed schools for 2 weeks after March break, and it kept getting extended until they just cancelled the rest of the in-person school year. I'm worried that is where this is headed again. DS really needs the social interaction of in-person school with peers his age and I'm worried about him. I'm also worried for myself having a 5 year old in online school and a newborn at home while recovering from a c-section. I realize this is a bit bratty because so many people have kids much closer in age than we do and are home with both all the time, but this is not what I was planning for/expecting and I'm feeling a bit thrown and freaked out. Ontario is in lockdown until the 23rd right now, but we had our highest case count for the province ever today (4200) and I suspect it'll be extended another 4 weeks at least.

On top of the fun that was yesterday, I now have a clogged milk duct and my nipple feels like it's being stabbed. Apparently this is "normal" in the 3rd trimester but not something I had to go through with DS1, so fun times. Should resolve with massage/warm compresses in a few days but it hurts like a MOFO. My pelvis continues to be a shit show. Chiro is helping it from getting worse, but it's just constant discomfort. 47 days to go.

I was at my OB yesterday and the 30 week ultrasound showed my placenta has stayed clear of my cervix, he was measuring just under 4 lbs, and scored 8/8 on the biophysical profile. He's on track to be 7.5-8 lbs at birth which is great. I start NSTs next week (insulin dependent GD) and have another ultrasound in another 2.5 weeks.

3. Are you doing a theme for your nursery?

Yes! We've done a Peter Rabbit themed nursery. It's almost done and I'll post AW pics when it's complete.

4. What do you do with all the baby stuff? Share your organizing tips!

I try to make sure I have as much easy storage as possible and things at hand. I like the Ikea Skubb sets for organizing clothes in drawers and I hang what can be hung without stretching it out (dollar store has tiny baby hangers). The Ikea set comes in packs with 3 sizes (2 of each) and help with keeping onesies/sleepers/tiny baby socks/whatever organized. I also have a tiered tray thing on the top of the dresser (which is also the "change table") to keep cream, wipes, and other small odds and ends. I have a nightstand beside the glider where I also have baskets underneath it which will hold extra burp clothes, nipple cream, some snacks for me, my waterbottle, etc. Baby will be in a bassinet in our room at first so I got the ubbi diaper caddy to keep diapers, wipes, bum cream, a change mat, a spare sheet for the bassinet, an extra sleeper and swaddle, nipple cream, etc. I also got a second one for the main floor so I don't have to cart DS2 up and down stairs to change him all the time.

[achi]

lovesherheels and corgimom - I can't believe how close you are!!! So exciting!

[tacom]

corgimom I’m still working on our playroom and would like to eventually have some custom shelving put in, and find a new colorful curtain. But that space definitely has a lot more going on than the bedroom, which is just a soft blue and all white / light gray accents and very minimal stuff in there. Not necessarily good design stuff - just kid stuff! Rainbow accents, colorful string lights, a teal nugget couch with a funky throw pillow.

lovesherheels you’re so close to your c section date!! Do you mind sharing what helped you make your decision for a VBAC versus repeat c? (If you had a choice). I had an unplanned cesarean with my first.

[tacom]

[mention]achi [/mention] I’m sorry for the impact of Covid. My 2.5 yo has been home since March (I cut my hours and only work weekends, while my husband works during the week) but our plan was to always find a nanny for my toddler who could mask up and keep him outside as much as possible while my husband works and I’m recovering from my csection. But with our case numbers and hospital overwhelm, even that is looking increasingly tenuous. (My baby is exposed to my immunosuppressants in utero so we also have to be more cautious for the first six months after birth). I’m sad about it and nervous - I still have some more time but it’s been several months now of moving in the wrong direction. It’s really frustrating to drive home from work and see people violating the public health order by dining out, having parties outside without masks etc.

[dreamcrisp1]

1. How far along are you? Team? 15 weeks, green!

2. Rants, raves, feelings? Work is crazy busy so that’s a fun way to start the new year. I meant to tell my bosses I was pregnant on Thursday but then they asked me to be the project manager on a huge project so I didn’t. 😬😬😬 I am pretty sure I’ve discovered a new allergy for my son and it’s just frustrating/overwhelming. He’s up to like 11-13 or something. And it’s a big allergy too. Anyways. Pregnancy is flying by! Had a great appt this week and got to hear the heartbeat. Worst news ever though is I have to do my GD test twice. 😭😭😭😭

3. Are you doing a theme for your nursery? We don’t really have a nursery. We will move my son to a big kid room and baby will take his room I think.

4. What do you do with all the baby stuff? Share your organizing tips!

We’re minimalists so I try not to have too much stuff. I only buy clothes as I need them. I only buy toys that have long term value (mostly wooden, books, or things like the pikler/play kitchen, etc.). Everything has a place and I’ve even taught my DS to clean up after himself and put it back. 😅😅 I buy what I need and sell it when done.

[lovesherheels]

tacom For sure; I'm an open book. 😊

Mainly, I think it was two things.

The first was more emotional: I don't feel like I'm missing anything by not having a vaginal birth experience. I mean that to say that I was never attached to how I had my kid(s). I didn't have any choice with DS1 -- he was surprise frank breech when I got to the hospital -- and thankfully I hadn't envisioned any kind of ideal birth or labor process. So I didn't "lose" anything with DS1's birth for which I need to "make up," if that makes sense.

The second was more practical: 2020 was so unpredictable in so many ways. Obviously the national and global things, but also here in my little corner of the world. (I won't bore you, but 2020 was a zoo.) My DH and I talked it over and eventually came to the conclusion that we didn't need more unknown. We both feel familiar with the c-section process in the hospital and the at-home recovery, and feel good about my doctors. From that perspective and for us, we couldn't find a good reason to change it up.

Obviously, everyone will be different and those may sound like awful reasons to some people lol. But that's basically why we have chosen to do what we have. It's not for everyone, but it's something that we've been pretty steadfast in since the first trimester.

[dreamcrisp1]

lovesherheels, I’ve also decided I will have a repeat c/s and knew from the beginning. I have no desire to go through what I went through and I’d much rather be prepared with a date and knowing what to expect. Also my primary goal now is to just make sure no one gives me antibiotics with penicillin or that’s contraindicated for a penicillin allergy again so I don’t react to it (I am very allergic and it was given to me with my 1st which made me very sick). This way I can tell the doctors before so everyone knows (though I did with the 1st and even wrote it in my birth plan that was taped up on my hospital walls...).

[tacom]

lovesherheels , I don't think those are awful reasons at all!

I'd like a vbac for health reasons (I want more kids, I already had scarring from an extensive Crohn's surgery that left adhesions on my uterus that needed to be addressed for my first c-section). But I have doubts (47% success rate based on my OB's calculator) and noticed even above that I wrote about C-section recovery as if it's the plan. It's a tough call since I obviously would like to avoid my past experience if possible (C-section at 10:30pm after laboring forever and 4.5 hours of pushing). Thank you for sharing!

dreamcrisp1 , I'm sorry you're finding new allergies still. How old is your son?

[lovesherheels]

tacom Yeah, if you want more then going for a VBAC is the right call if you can do it. That's another thing we talked about for like .2 seconds, lol, but DH and I are pretty squarely set on only wanting two kids. So it would have been a discussion factor if we wanted more, but since we don't it wasn't really a thing. I hope that you and your care team can find a way to get you the vaginal birth you want -- but if you have to go to the c-section, that it's not after 4.5hrs of pushing!! That's so much on your body, and so much to recover from, so I hope you don't have to go through that again. <3 

dreamcrisp1 Yikes! That's a lot! I hope that you can get through it without any allergy issues. AND that your doctors pay attention to your care notes! I'm also sorry to hear your son has developed another allergy. That has to be tough to navigate.

corgimom Nothing like a little stress here at the end, right? Sigh. I'm sure everything is fine, and I hope your normal midwife can give you some peace of mind. 

achi Oh gosh, you poor thing. You've had a week! I hope you've been able to get some rest and relax, and that things are calmer moving forward!

[tacom]

lovesherheels, thank you! That is my hope as well. I love the confidence you have in your birthing plan and wish you a smooth delivery and recovery. Just over a couple weeks to go!

[dreamcrisp1]

tacom, he’s just over 16 months now.

[achi]

Jan 10, 2021 13:36:49 GMT -5 lovesherheels said:

tacom Yeah, if you want more then going for a VBAC is the right call if you can do it. That's another thing we talked about for like .2 seconds, lol, but DH and I are pretty squarely set on only wanting two kids. So it would have been a discussion factor if we wanted more, but since we don't it wasn't really a thing. I hope that you and your care team can find a way to get you the vaginal birth you want -- but if you have to go to the c-section, that it's not after 4.5hrs of pushing!! That's so much on your body, and so much to recover from, so I hope you don't have to go through that again. <3 

dreamcrisp1 Yikes! That's a lot! I hope that you can get through it without any allergy issues. AND that your doctors pay attention to your care notes! I'm also sorry to hear your son has developed another allergy. That has to be tough to navigate.

corgimom Nothing like a little stress here at the end, right? Sigh. I'm sure everything is fine, and I hope your normal midwife can give you some peace of mind. 

achi Oh gosh, you poor thing. You've had a week! I hope you've been able to get some rest and relax, and that things are calmer moving forward!

Thank you!! The clogged duct is 80% better so here's hoping it doesn't come back! I'm feeling better about the COVID case at H's work since no one else has tested positive or developed symptoms, but it's becoming very real that I'm about to have a baby in the middle of a global pandemic that is very much not under control. Sigh. I'm ready for mat leave to start. 

[corgimom]

achi, So glad that your duct is getting better! I had that happen a few times when I was weaning DD1 and it sucks I really, really feel you on being ready for maternity leave! I'm over work and with everything going on in the world, but especially COVID, I just want to huddle down at home for a few months.

[tacom]

Jan 11, 2021 7:14:44 GMT -5 dreamcrisp1 said:

tacom, he’s just over 16 months now.

I’m sorry you’re finding new allergies. That was the hardest time for me.