2009 Pregnancy/baby thread

[Cataholic]

Anyone have one or know of a good brand?

Lyra just started sleeping in her own room 2 nights ago (was in our room until then). She seems fine, but I worry when I can't see her. I'm probably crazy, but I worry about the weirdest things, especially when she isn't making any noise so I can't hear her on the regular monitor. And barging into her room during the night isn't helping my sleep or hers!

Thanks!

I live in a very small house, and I am a very light sleeper. I did not use a video monitor and frankly, the baby monitor was a huge distraction to my sleep. Huge. J didn't sleep through the night until 14 or 15 months. I heard every night he cried. Or whimpered. I responded.

At 7 months, I would probably not advise a baby monitor.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

I live in a very small house, and I am a very light sleeper. I did not use a video monitor and frankly, the baby monitor was a huge distraction to my sleep. Huge. J didn't sleep through the night until 14 or 15 months. I heard every night he cried. Or whimpered. I responded.

At 7 months, I would probably not advise a baby monitor.

Lyra started sleeping through the night on her own about a month ago (I didn't do anything- the first night I thought it was a fluke, but she's been sleeping from about 8 pm to 4-6 am pretty consistently). I can't hear her crying without the monitor at night because of the window fan, and I can't leave the door open or the cats would jump in her crib. I have been waking up though, not from the noise through the monitor, but from the lack of noise from the monitor. When I can't hear her (because she's asleep and not crying) or see her, I'm convinced that there's something wrong...so I think the video monitor would help me sleep rather than keep me up.

[finn's mom]

We have Clara in a co-sleeper, so I have no use for a monitor at this point, so I don't know which brand is best. Clara sleeps through the night inconsistently already, which is odd, but we're not complaining. We've had several nights that she's slept from 10 or 11 to around 6 or 7. If she wasn't eating so well and gaining so much weight, I'd wake her up at night to feed her. But, I'm not at this point! I wake her during the day, but not for nighttime feedings.

Good luck finding a monitor. When you do find one, let us know how it is. I'm sure at some point, I'll probably want one. We don't have to close her door, though, so we might not.

[Cataholic]

Lyra started sleeping through the night on her own about a month ago (I didn't do anything- the first night I thought it was a fluke, but she's been sleeping from about 8 pm to 4-6 am pretty consistently). I can't hear her crying without the monitor at night because of the window fan, and I can't leave the door open or the cats would jump in her crib. I have been waking up though, not from the noise through the monitor, but from the lack of noise from the monitor. When I can't hear her (because she's asleep and not crying) or see her, I'm convinced that there's something wrong...so I think the video monitor would help me sleep rather than keep me up.

Have you considered a crib tent? J always slept with a crib tent on his crib, cats can't get in, and he couldn't get out, well, until he was about 2 anyhow. I had a lot of comfort in knowing I could keep the door open, and not worry about the cats.

[wolfsoul]

Great pictures of Laura. Do you think her eyes will stay blue?

I'll be 38 weeks on Saturday. The pain I was having in my belly while working has come back. Dr is not sure what it is -- could be a hernia, could be placental abruption.. I guess at this point we don't worry much because baby is still active and growing, and if it's a hernia there is nothing we can do right now anyways.

Question -- how did all of you feel about getting checked for dilation? I don't understand why my dr wants to check me once a week. She did it again yesterday and I actually told her to stop, it was too much, it hurts, it felt like I was tearing, and I'm afraid it will induce me. What difference does it really make if I'm dilated? I'm 38 weeks, obviously it's bound to happen any time now, and frankly I don't need someone poking around down there to tell me just how far along the dilation is.. I simply don't care!! lol. So I think I'm just going to refuse it from now on.. Either way, I'm not dilated yet.

Otherwise things have been okay. Sleep has gotten ALOT better. Belly is growing. I've gained about 20-22 pounds. Everyone keeps telling me I'll have a 5-7 pound baby because I'm so small, but dr still says she's expecting an 8 and a half pound baby, maybe more, based on my growth so far. It's common in my family to have 10-12 pound babies and not grow very much or gain much weight. I have my mom's body more than anyone else's, and my brother was 9.15, and she only gained 28 pounds and wasn't very large (though I carry higher and more outfront). So who knows. I definatly expect in the 8 pound range though. I wish she would drop already, breathing is so diffcult.

[beeniesmom]

Great pictures of Laura. Do you think her eyes will stay blue?

Thanks! I'm not sure but we are hoping. So far they seem to be the same color as my husbands so you never know...

Question -- how did all of you feel about getting checked for dilation?

Not sure why they are checking you so much.... You need to ask if there is a medical reason for them to do so. Believe it or not I was never checked. The only time they needed to go 'down there' was when they did the strep B test swab and that was it. They didn't know 100% if I was going to have a C-section until a few days before so they could have checked me for dilation...

I dunno, if you are uncomfortable then tell them you'd prefer not to be checked unless they are checking if you are in labor or something.

Don't be shy, that's the one thing I can tell you. I wish I was a little more firm with some stuff but hindsight is 20/20. If I had insisted they bring me the baby as soon as she was born and that they not give her formula I wouldn't have had such a difficult time with the breastfeeding... she never wanted to latch on so now, I am stuck pumping 4 - 5 times a day and feeding it to her with a bottle.

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Great pictures of Laura. Do you think her eyes will stay blue?

I'll be 38 weeks on Saturday. The pain I was having in my belly while working has come back. Dr is not sure what it is -- could be a hernia, could be placental abruption.. I guess at this point we don't worry much because baby is still active and growing, and if it's a hernia there is nothing we can do right now anyways.

Question -- how did all of you feel about getting checked for dilation? I don't understand why my dr wants to check me once a week. She did it again yesterday and I actually told her to stop, it was too much, it hurts, it felt like I was tearing, and I'm afraid it will induce me. What difference does it really make if I'm dilated? I'm 38 weeks, obviously it's bound to happen any time now, and frankly I don't need someone poking around down there to tell me just how far along the dilation is.. I simply don't care!! lol. So I think I'm just going to refuse it from now on.. Either way, I'm not dilated yet.

Otherwise things have been okay. Sleep has gotten ALOT better. Belly is growing. I've gained about 20-22 pounds. Everyone keeps telling me I'll have a 5-7 pound baby because I'm so small, but dr still says she's expecting an 8 and a half pound baby, maybe more, based on my growth so far. It's common in my family to have 10-12 pound babies and not grow very much or gain much weight. I have my mom's body more than anyone else's, and my brother was 9.15, and she only gained 28 pounds and wasn't very large (though I carry higher and more outfront). So who knows. I definatly expect in the 8 pound range though. I wish she would drop already, breathing is so diffcult.

I ended up being induced 4 weeks before Lyra's due date so I was never checked prior to then (though I was actually already 3 cm dilated), but I will tell you being continuously checked was more painful than most of the labor!

I hope your last few weeks of pregnancy go well, and I can't wait to hear the news that your baby is here!

[AdoreMyDogs]

Oh my gosh all the babies are so incredibly beautiful! Lyra AND her daddy are total cuties, Carmen you and Laura are darling. I don't know that I've seen a picture of you before, you're so pretty!

Hope everyone is doing well and enjoying mommyhood (and mommyhood-to-be)

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Have you considered a crib tent? J always slept with a crib tent on his crib, cats can't get in, and he couldn't get out, well, until he was about 2 anyhow. I had a lot of comfort in knowing I could keep the door open, and not worry about the cats.

I hadn't thought about it before but I could see the cats thinking it was a new toy made for them to try out. They have been sleeping in the crib for nearly a year (I think it was last October that we bought it and set it up), so they somewhat rightfully think of it as "theirs." They are also not shy about sharing with Lyra if need be, even though she delights in trying to grab them. I could definitely see Desmond trying to jump on a crib tent, repeatedly, with Lyra in it, even if he fell off a few times....

And anyway I made the mistake of mentioning a video monitor to my husband who is now convinced we should get a webcam instead. In the mean time, I have Lyra back in my bedroom.

[Cataholic]

I hadn't thought about it before but I could see the cats thinking it was a new toy made for them to try out. They have been sleeping in the crib for nearly a year (I think it was last October that we bought it and set it up), so they somewhat rightfully think of it as "theirs." They are also not shy about sharing with Lyra if need be, even though she delights in trying to grab them. I could definitely see Desmond trying to jump on a crib tent, repeatedly, with Lyra in it, even if he fell off a few times....

The crib tent that I had would easily hold 25 pounds. It is the coolest contraption, really. The thing wouldn't bend/break. Once J turned 2, he slept in a bed. Of course, at that age, only 1 cat wanted to be anywhere near him, LOL...now he has a bedful of cats at times. Gives me more leg room!

[gemini9961]

Here is my first posted belly pic. Taken last night at 14 weeks. I think I still look more bloated and chubby than pregnant. My waist has pretty much disappeared and my whole belly area (under chest to pubic area) seems to have grown outwards. It's quite strange.


Taken with my cell so the pic is not the best.

[wolfsoul]

Thanks guys for your opinions about the dilation checking -- I am going to tell her I am not comfortable with it. I honestly don't care if I'm dilated, so I don't see why it needs to be done anyways. I could be 6 cm and ready to pop and I'm okay with not knowing it LOL, it doesn't really make any difference at this point!

Here are some pictures from today (38 weeks in two days)



I look a little sporty here LOL, I just like to be comfy right now. No curves left!

[beeniesmom]

Awww, you are adorable!!!

[finn's mom]

Both of you girls look just right! It's so exciting to have so many ladies having babies!

Today is my 33rd birthday *and* Clara's one month birthday! YAY! It's amazing that it's been a month already!