Okay, so I think "easier" is open to discussion. I don't know that this has really been any easier than it was with the girls honestly!
I think another big part of my neglecting posting about Baby C is that we have two crazy toddlers running around, being adorable, and keeping us crazy busy. I don't have the time to analyze every little thing going on with this pregnancy, and since I'm only being monitored once a month, if we don't get good ultrasound pictures (we NEVER seem to get good ultrasound pictures), I have little to nothing to post about.
We don't have another OB appointment until next week, but since it's been 4-5 weeks since I've posted anything about baby C, AND 28 weeks is a milestone time point for pregnancy, I figured it's about time I just wrote some items down!
So...
We are 28 weeks this week. Wow! Only 11 weeks to go if we go the C-section route, and about 12 weeks to go if we go the VBAC route. We are on the home stretch for sure! I should probably start buying clothes for this little peanut....too bad baby boy clothes aren't nearly as cute as baby girl clothes! I'd have his little closet filled already! Well that, and I don't really know what size to buy...with the girls I knew they'd come early and likely would be in newborn clothes for a while. But with this little man being full term, he will likely be 8 lbs (or more!) at birth, so I don't know that newborn is the size that I should be shopping for! Any insight mommas?
So what else? This little man is very very active! Brianna was a very active baby too, but I think that this little man may have her beat. He really squirms all over the place and takes full advantage of all the space he has in there. Full, BIG movements are common now. I can watch my entire belly move like a wave. Very cool! The girls continue to be obsessed with my growing belly and belly button. I keep telling them that there is a baby in there, but they still don't really get it. Livvy has started giving my belly kisses though, which is absolutely adorable, so I think she maybe has some tiny bit of understanding that there could be a baby in there.
A couple of things that have been different with this pregnancy (and the reason that I note that this pregnancy may not be any "easier" really than the first pregnancy) is the amount of soreness I have been experiencing. My hips and pelvis are SO sore. So sore! All the time. My OB says that since the two pregnancies are so close together that my ligaments pretty much just stayed loose, therefore not supporting my frame and structure (and are getting more loose by the minute it feels like)! While I may not be carrying as much baby weight around, the whole act of moving around, standing, sitting, etc. is more difficult this time. I have definitely been surprised. I was looking forward to an easy, pain free pregnancy! HA!
The other thing I have been watching for with this pregnancy is Pre-Eclampsia. Since I developed pre-e with the girls I now know what to watch for. It makes the symptoms easier to spot, but I also get concerned a bit easier too when I see a new symptom pop up. My blood pressure has been elevated for about the last 6 weeks, but it's not too high yet to where it's overly concerning. They did a 24 hour urine on me about 4 weeks ago, and my protein was already at 260 (300 is clinical indication for pre-e), so that is being watched as well. I just had my week 28 blood work and Rhogam shot, and they went ahead and added on a CMP (Complete Metabolic Panel) to check my liver function and make sure that all is still well there. I feel like I'm being appropriately monitored, I just wish there was something I could do to prevent the pre-eclampsia from occurring all together! My OB told me that my chances of developing pre-eclampsia in a second pregnancy are lower, only about 15%, but with my numbers already being elevated on several of the clinical markers it makes me think that probably I will end up fitting right into that 15% the longer I progress into my pregnancy. I'm hopeful that won't happen, but I'm not counting on it.
So, that's the story! Now on to belly pictures! Just as I did last time, I will post a comparison shot - one of me now, with a singleton, and one of me at the same point with twins. Definitely smaller this time around =).
Here I am today, at 28 weeks 1 day with "baby C"
Here I am at 28 weeks with the girls
HUGE difference right? LOL!
Okay, so that's all for now! I hope you all are having a great week, and if you have any input for me, clothes-wise, pre-e - wise, or otherwise, please feel free to share it! Thank you!!!
Until next time -
Megan
Your bump is so cute! Love seeing the differences in your bumps.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I was surprised with this one! At 23 weeks there was a difference, but it wasn't a huge difference. This is a HUGE difference! LOL! I'm glad I have comparison pics - I think it's fun!
DeleteI'm smaller this time too. I've gained a LOT less but I started out heavier this time too. I think the fact that I chase Adam all day and that he eats MY food has contributed to that greatly. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're not posting about Baby Boy Hollibaugh because you're not a rookie anymore! This is business as usual and oh the way, don't forget, you're pregnant! That's how I feel anyway! :-)
Clothes - Adam was born 8 lbs 7 ounces. I had ZERO newborn clothes for him. And I had to go buy him some after he was born. He needed the newborn zip up sleepers (circo at target I think) and a few onesies to get him buy. The 0-3 month stuff fit but was ridiculously large. Adam did lose weight but we were able to stop him at 10% weight loss. It just took a ton of feeding and a ton of time for him to get back up. I think we were in newborn size and some 0-3 that must have ran small for about a month. Which doesn't seem like a long time - but it was worth having clothes and most importantly, sleepers, that fit properly. What I've done for Matthew who is looking to be as big or bigger than Adam is buy 3 newborn fancy outfits. (like for outings or guests or whatever). Then I have several newborn onesies and sleepers. Like say - 6 each. One thing to watch out for is that Gerber brand runs tiny. So for us 0-3 in Gerber WAS newborn. And 3-6 in Gerber was 0-3, etc. Hit up those Garage Sales I got tons of stuff for Adam at the garage sales. Gymboree has cuter stuff for boys than Carters... but man $$$. Carters online has cuter stuff for boys than the one at VP. But I hardly ever have good luck with the Gap. :-(
Is anyone throwing you a shower? I mean, I know you had one for the girls - but this one is a boy... You'll need some of those bigger receiving blankets in BOY colors. Are you going to reuse bottles? Do you have pump extras? Tubing, white things, yellow things, shields - some women find their nipples get bigger with future babies and need a bigger shield... Let's see... pre E advice... Don't get it!!!!! :-/ ugh!
You look awesome!
Oh totally! Chasing around toddlers and sharing YOUR food with them makes a HUGE difference! There are plenty of days before bed I end up eating more just to make sure I am eating enough! That was never a problem with the girls. Oh how life can change so much in two short years - LOL!
DeleteYou're right, I don't feel like a rookie anymore. I know what to expect, and I know what's normal and what's not. =)
Clothes - GOOD tips! Yeah, the girls were in newborn for about 6 weeks. I remember trying the 0-3 stuff on them and it was HUGE...but they were 6 lb babies...not 8 lb babies. I remember about Gerber stuff being small too...we pretty much avoided Gerber stuff with the girls simply because of the confusing sizing! I think that's a great idea to have 3 fancy outfits in size newborn, then 6 sleepers and 6 onsies. So brilliant you are Miss Sheila! I'm looking forward to hitting some garage sales and the multiples sale, it just makes me nervous waiting SO close to his due date to actually have a little wardrobe picked out and purchased for him!
I actually believe I am being thrown a shower! It definitely isn't necessary, but it is an excellent excuse to get some ladies together and have some of Bridget's wonderful cake! LOL! I already bought the fabric for Little Man's receiving blankets and have passed it off to Aunt Denise for finishing =). I have picked up multiple extra pump parts, but I haven't picked up new tubing yet. I replaced the tubing not long before I stopped pumping with the girls, so it isn't that old...how often does it need to be changed out??? I am still trying to decide which pump I intend to use too...I have more spare parts for the freestyle than I do the pump in style actually...oh, and BIGGER sheilds??? I'm already in the XL size! I don't think they come bigger! I had to special order the ones I have!!! HA!
Ugh - I KNOW! I don't want it! I had such a crappy recovery last time and I am pretty darn sure that Pre-E played a big part in that...I don't even want to go there this time!!! Thanks for your input momma!!!
Well, I'd check to make sure the tubing is squeaky clean. I think the medela sizes are 21 (small) 24 (medium) comes with the pump, 27 - that's was one size I used, 30 - another sized I used and 36? So after talking with my LC and milkworks recently, I've got 24s 27s and 30s ready to go. I don't think I'll need 36 - but they're there. You're probably good to go!
DeleteMaybe people will start their garage sales early this year with the freakish nice weather. That would help a ton!!!! C'mon April garage sales!
Maybe buying new tubing makes sense. It's not like it's that expensive anyway is it? Yeah, I used 30's this last time...so 36 is the only size bigger...and that seems huge! Hopefully the 30's will be just fine! FX!
DeleteI hope people start their garage sales early! I have several mommas on the block with little boys the girls age who will be selling clothes this year, so I can always buy from them...then there's the multiples sale...and I've been hitting craigslist pretty hard...found a twin boy momma who is selling TONS of stuff for pretty cheap, and it's cute stuff! So...maybe I won't have all that much shopping left to do! We will see!
Also JUST found out that the tubing they give you at the hospital in the event you'd use the symphony can be cut and reused. Remember BOB? So if you end up using that - you just cut off the ends that connect to the top of BOB and then attach that to your pump. I know that works for the advanced freestyle. I didn't ask about the handsfree one. I was just at milkworks on Wednesday and that was their big tip to me. I plan on using bob for awhile. :-) So they didn't want me to buy tubing in advance. Hope that helps!
DeleteMy Little Man was 7 lbs 4 oz (7 - 10 before the day was done!) and was 19" long. I dressed him mostly in sleeper outfits and onesies with a swaddle blanket. We had 0-3 month outfits, and they were a tad big, but a better use of our money. He could wear them longer than anything NB. I think we had maybe one Carter's NB layette set (3 or 4 pieces) and those fit for about three weeks :). But, again, I was (and still am) a big fan of onesies. Pair them with a blanket or a sleeper and you're good to go!!
ReplyDeleteI agree Rachel! Sleepers and onsies with a swaddle blanket are absolutely the way to go when they are so little! We got so many "fancy" newborn outfits for the girls that they never even wore! Totally not worth the money!
DeleteGood to know about the Carter's Layette sets being able to fit for about 3 weeks. Makes me think that maybe a couple of those would be good, but we definitely don't need many!
Thanks for your input momma!
You look awesome! My daughter was one week early and weighed in at 9.5lbs. The newborn diapers in the delivery room didn't fit! Anyways..I'm excited for you! ::)
ReplyDeleteAww thanks!! And LOL! 9.5 lbs! That's amazing! She was a big baby! I've thought about diapers too actually...we've bought a couple of small packages of newborn diapers, but yeah, I think we are pretty much going to go right into 1's!
DeleteThanks for your input Heather!!
Oh my goodness you are such a cute pregnant lady! I lean towards Gerber 0-3 since they run smaller and will get you farther than newborn!
ReplyDeleteAww! Thanks Heather!!! I didn't really think about using the Gerber stuff that way - we always just avoided it with the girls since the sizing was small! But if you go into it with the intention of it being small because you need something smaller than one size and bigger than another then I bet it would be perfect! Thanks for your input!
DeleteYou are the cutest! What a fun comparison, too. :) Sounds totally crazy, but Cracker Barrel has the cutest baby boy clothes. Do you have one of those nearby?
ReplyDeleteThanks Johanna!!
DeleteYou are kidding me! Cracker Barrel?! I never would have thought! Like in their gift shop? Yes, we have at least one close...I haven't been there in ages...sounds like an excuse to make a trip! If I recall, their food is pretty tasty too. Two birds, one stone =)
Wow!! You look great! I hope you're able to avoid pre-e this time around!
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing about boys' clothes, but there's some really cute stuff out there. My favorites are Mini Boden, Gymboree, and Baby Gap. Target has a lot of cute tees too.
Ooh, good tips! I love Baby Gap! And I've gotten him a couple of clearance outfits at Gymboree for around Christmas time that were super cute. Mini Boden...I'm not familiar with that one, but will definitely check it out! Thanks for the suggestions!
DeleteYou look great! I understand the whole soreness thing, third time around I was so sore in my 'lower' muscles lol, so much pressure (tmi?) sorry.
ReplyDeleteYou would be so busy with the girls and you wait til he comes along! I found my first born seemed like a baby forever but the next two, their baby stages just flew by probably because I was busier.
Glad you're keeping well :)
Thanks Kerry! I thought it was so weird to be so sore, but yeah, apparently it's very common! Hence why people who are pregnant for the second, third, fourth time often complain about pain! They aren't just whining...it's bizarre to be sore so early on!
DeleteI think time is going to fly by with this little guy! With the girls the baby phase went SO slowly at the time, but in hindsight totally flew by. Now they are crazy toddlers, and I don't remember much between when they were a year old and now...it's been 5 months! They have changed SO much! Thank goodness for the blog! Otherwise I'd have nothing written down anywhere for them! Thanks for your input!
can I just say... that the one thing that sticks out to me most about your "comparison" photos isn't you at all. It's the beautiful pictures on that wall that was so bland behind you when you were expecting the girls! and now, happy pictures of two beautiful girls...
ReplyDeleteTake a moment and reflect on how blessed you are. :) That wall will never be bare again!
You are SO right! Thank you for reminding me to stop and smell the roses and see just how blessed we really are! I do have two beautiful, energetic, amazing little girls who fill my life with happiness!
DeleteThe wall does look so bare in the pregnancy pics with the girls! Wow. So blessed. =)
Hope you are well...I haven't heard from you in quite some time! Thanks for dropping by!
You look great!!
ReplyDeletegirl, you look great!
ReplyDeletei can totally understand what you're going through right now...a little over a year ago, i was in the same boat. :)
you can do it! :)
You look great! And 28 weeks?? Where did the time go?
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's harder to find cute boy stuff. I get a lot of stuff for Drew at Old Navy and Gymboree. Never thought of Cracker Barrel, but hey, good food AND clothes...maybe I should ;-)
You look amazing!! So glad you updated!!
ReplyDelete