*Baby Corner*

[caybee 21]

hehe I was trying to figure out if I had told the story already, but I think I didn't so here it goes

Justin and I always knew we wanted children, we talked about it before getting married and thought about it a lot, but we were just waiting a little bit to time it with school (I want to get a US degree). But, the idea was growing on us more and more, so we decided we would "stop preventing". First month, and I'm feeling all these things: I'm feeling veeery tired, cramping way before I'm due for AF, boobies hurt, etc. So I had my suspicions. Justin's Bday was jan 4th (sunday) so I convinced him to go out with his friends sat night and spend the night at their house in San Marcos (30 min away). I got a HPT and took it in the morning...man, it turned so positive in about a second! I looked at it, put it down, looked at it again, I was crying, I couldn't believe it!

So, I went to walgreens, got a pair of baby socks size 0 ( ), a gift bag, and a card. I put the socks and the test in the gift bag, and next to it the card. Justin came home and I told him I had a second present for him. I gave him the bag, and when he opened it the first thing he saw was the socks, which happened to be blue (just because they were the first I saw) and he told me: "You're pregnant!? and it's a boy!?" I said "hun, it's like a little cell right now, it doesn't have a winkie!"

And we hugged and kissed and cried together. It was so sweet

Saludos,

Caro

Great story!

[caybee 21]

To Caro & Nessa - my hubby kept the pregnancy test. He has it in his closet next to his sweaters and such. Isn't that just too cute. I was actually thinking about putting it in the scrapbook someday next to the baby's very first U/S pictures. Anyone think that is tacky???

I don't think that's tacky at all, no worse than the fragment of umbilical cord that my mom put in mine I may put our half-a-dozen tests in there as well (no, I didn't believe it the first time, nor the second, nor... and I had to give hubby a digital one that had the word "pregnant" on it since I was shaking too hard to say the words out loud). We announced to my parents on Christmas Day and almost hung the test on the tree, but handed my mom a bag of specialty M&Ms instead -- can't remember if I saw that idea here or not. I told her we'd bought them on sale as a gag gift, and she believed me, until my sister started making noise.

You know, mine was a Dollar Tree pregnancy test - I bought it for a buck and took it in the bathroom at the store because I just had to know. Can you believe it?? My husband saw it and said, "Que es?" "What is it?" I was like - "it's a pregnancy test and according to this Made in China contraption, we're having a baby."

My first one was a Dollar Tree test too! I'd been charting for months, but in November, I totally forgot to log anything except the first day of the cycle. I lost track of the days and sure didn't know whether we'd timed anything right at all. Then one cold night, we were going to bed, and I grumped, "It's so HOT in here!" My husband looked at me funny, and I suddenly wondered what day it was. I bought a DT test and took it the next evening while hubby was at work. There was one line. I pouted and started putting things away, then glanced down and saw something VERY faint. I tried again the next morning with the same result. So the next afternoon, I got a digital test that spelled it out, and I handed it to my husband. He went totally catatonic on me, staring into space for a LONG time. I finally said, "Well, is it okay??" He was happy, but he didn't let himself really get to into it until I had an ultrasound at eight weeks and he saw the baby moving and we both "heard" the audio rendering of the heartbeat on ultrasound. He jumped up and grabbed my hand, and I heard myself say, "Is that the heart?" in a voice I'd never heard before. I think we both teared up. Now he's getting advice from his mom about how to take care of me, and he's getting excited about his role in this baby's life.

I had a week of pink spotting at five weeks, so I had my first ultrasound then. Since then, I've spotted maybe once a week, so I've had three ultrasounds in total, two just as reassurance. When it first happened, although there was never a lot, some was bright red and there were some small clots, so on two occasions I was convinced something was going wrong and I was crushed. So it was a long time before I told anyone outside of the family. But last Monday (last day I spotted) I saw the heartbeat again and saw the baby swimming around like a little sea creature, and I just relaxed. I still worry about getting too excited, but we're so close to the end of the first trimester, and I just feel like everything is a go. We'll have a nuchal translucency scan in a couple of weeks because of my age, but I don't intend to have any invasive testing.

Oh, spilled the beans at work today, so the boss knows, and she is thrilled. Glad that's over :-)

Caroll Anne - that sounds almost identical to what happened to me. I just put it all in God's hands and said, "if it's meant to be...well then." I think at times it still shocks the heck out of the dr each time I go see him because he was just so sure I was going to miscarry. So here I am at 29 weeks and I can't believe it. I did the nuchal scan at 15 weeks I think because I just turned 35 and yet the baby is doing awesome!

I remember reading about your scares a few weeks back and was happy to see that you both were healthy. In fact, I also felt so much better after reading that because I saw you had experienced something similar and were still doing well. I had been reading the gloom and doom on FAR too many TTC message boards.

It is scary and I don't deny what I went through or try to minimize it, but we made it through. So there is hope...but I will also say that it has taken me till about my 24th week to kind of believe that it was all real...not because I didn't want to, but because I was amazed to have made it this far. Because of what my dr had said, I was just positive that I was going to miscarry and that all I was doing was waiting for the day when I would have to go to the emergency room for a DNC. It really was quite bizarre. So I'll be praying big prayers for you that it all just works out like it's supposed to and whatever you need you ask.

And you know, the thing about miscarriages is that people see them as tragedies, and they are to an extent, but really it is your body's way (and the baby's too) saying that something is terribly wrong and the pregnancy shouldn't continue, thus your body aborts the fetus naturally. Sad but an amazing part of nature.

That is true, and I think that's why my husband avoided becoming too attached too quickly (as did I, to a certain extent, but I couldn't help it). I'm older than average, which increases the risk of first-trimester miscarriage, and I have a blood disorder which also increases the same risk. Since we're almost to 12 weeks, I'm starting to relax, but I'll still be counting down till that viability date and beyond. Thankfully, no spotting for eight days now It was never much, and I never had any cramping with it, nor did they see anything on the ultrasound. The doctors have never seemed worried, but they did put me on pelvic rest to be safe.

I'm glad you have made it through the scary part and that you've shared your story. I hope the rest of your pregnancy is smooth and uneventful

[caybee 21]

did any of you take breastfeeding class? i've been looking at my l&d hospital and they have childbirth class (which i'm not interested), baby basics class (i'm considering, it's $ 30.00) and breastfeeding ($20.00)

Definitely planning to take the breastfeeding class. There are childbirth and parenting classes also, as well as a "bootcamp" for dads. I'd like us to do at least one of those together and hopefully meet some other future parents. Since we work opposite shifts, we hope to avoid daycare, but if we do that, we'll have to find other ways for the kid to socialize. I don't know if that schedule is even realistic though. It may be more than we can handle.

[Anna C. 4]

I didn't take any class, but I read the Dr. Sears book (part about pregnancy, natural childbirth and breastfeeding) and the Bradley method book. Retrospectively, I would have sent hubbie to daddy bootcamp - he just always forgot to dry baby's behind & put on diaper cream... Took me forever to convince him to put it on....

I knew everything about breastfeeding, yet I was endlessly grateful for having IBCLC's after birth with me. They helped me with latching issues, etc (ok granted, I had a preemie with a weak latch and we needed to SNS feed, pump, breastshields, but he never ate anything but my milk!). I'd say after 3 weeks we breastfed without any help. I think a class might be beneficial, but also make sure you will have lactation consultants in the hospital and in town to help you. A good one will not suggest formula until your milk comes in. My milk didn't come until 50 hours after birth, and in the meantime my son ate the colostrum, which is enough at that point, many hospitals though will push formula for no reason.

@ Caybee: Don't worry about socializing, that's really not the issue with infants and toddlers... More with preschoolers, but then they attend playdates and little league etc anyways!

I was stuck in daycare from the day I turned one until kindergarten. I hated it. I never liked it. I was so happy when my dad got a job that allowed him to work from home. I didn't have to stay at daycare after school then, it was sheer heaven.

Edited January 27, 2009 by Anna C.

[tnh9479 1]

Carol Anne: I am so excited for you! Congrats!

Last night was a little trying on mom and dad. It was the first night we were alone with the babies and Zak decided he wanted to be up from 11:30pm to 3 am! He wanted nothing to do with the swing and wanted to feed a little bit every 1/2 hour. Finally I got him down around 3am. But he kept all of us, even his sister, up. I am awaiting an afternoon nap badly!

As for my bfp story: In May we decided to try to concieve. Everything we read said it took most people 3-6 months to become pregnant. Well...I can definitely say I truly knew I was pregnant a full two weeks before I should have a test result saying so. I was nauseous and light-headed from very early on. About a week before I should be able to test, my breasts became unbelievably sore. I told my husband I think I am pregnant. He said it just may be in my head. I decided to test 5 days before and got a BFP. We didn't believe it so we tested at 3 days before and again at 1 day before and it became more vibrantly yes. So...we knew Memorial Day weekend, but kept it quiet until we went to the pregnancy affirmation appointment at my ob's. The funny thing...my ob said she had a feeling then I was carrying twins, before the dating ultrasound at 6.5 weeks.

[caybee 21]

@ Caybee: Don't worry about socializing, that's really not the issue with infants and toddlers... More with preschoolers, but then they attend playdates and little league etc anyways!

I was stuck in daycare from the day I turned one until kindergarten. I hated it. I never liked it. I was so happy when my dad got a job that allowed him to work from home. I didn't have to stay at daycare after school then, it was sheer heaven.

That's good to know! It's been a long time since developmental psych. We hope my mother-in-law will come to stay with us for the first two or three months, and my parents and one sister are in town, so I hope with everyone around, we can get on something resembling a schedule before I have to go back to work.

Does anyone read Dr. Spock's book anymore? My mom followed that when I was born, and I found her copy in our recent move. I know a lot of it may be outdated, but he was pretty progressive at the time. Best piece of advice is in the first sentence: "You know more than you think you do."

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Back from Zaids 9 month checkup. 21.7lbs and 31.5 inches. He is a big boy. He got finger pricked and a Hep B shot and didnt even flinch. He really is becoming a big boy.

I agree about some nurses wanting to push formula at the hospital. I had one who checked on me CONSTANTLY to make sure I diddnt give up and give zaid formula but I had a different nurse who was insisitng I should give him formula bc he was "Starving"

[Nessa 23]

he's the cutes't big boy.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

thanks nessa!

[Vi Mazzella 4]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww Zaid looks SO Cute .

[JVKn'CVO 11]

@Vi: So glad everything is ok! what a relief!

@Staashi: there must be something about american capricorns with argentinians

I still love all the BFP stories!

and I agree...Zaid is such a cutie!!!

Saludos,

Caro

[Staashi 371]

@Vi: So glad everything is ok! what a relief!

@Staashi: there must be something about american capricorns with argentinians

I still love all the BFP stories!

and I agree...Zaid is such a cutie!!!

Saludos,

Caro

hehe Caro - yeah - Hey, did you order tea from that website?

[Autumnchik 6]

Zaid is such a cutie I can't wait to see how much Declan has grown. I can guarantee, weight wise, he won't even come close to Zaid (my poor skinny boy)

[JVKn'CVO 11]

@Vi: So glad everything is ok! what a relief!

@Staashi: there must be something about american capricorns with argentinians

I still love all the BFP stories!

and I agree...Zaid is such a cutie!!!

Saludos,

Caro

hehe Caro - yeah - Hey, did you order tea from that website?

Not yet, but I sure will! so many yummy teas. I like the mezcla de hiervas too

Saludos,

Caro

[JVKn'CVO 11]

So, it looks like the roads will be iced over tomorrow morning. If that happens, most likely our OB appointment will have to be rescheduled

I don't want it rescheduled, I want to see the baby and make sure that it's ok!

Hubby cheered me up a little bit. He said "The way that baby has been handing you your a$$ every morning, I'm sure it is very well alive and kicking!" *sigh* my sweet sailor mouth husband

Saludos,

Caro