Re: New Mommies to be May, June & July 2011

Claire, the heat gets to me sometimes, but I don't really mind it as I grew up with much worse. I do think it makes me more tired, so that is what gets me most. I wish I could be booked off... I won't mind being at home sooner, in fact I would love it, but I need to gather as much salary as possible before my unpaid leave. How are you feeling these days? Getting excited?

Solo - which ante-natal teacher are you going to? Your outline sounds remarkably familiar trust me you do learn a lot in the last few classes esp how to bath baba and everything

TaNasha - when I saw your little girls name choice - I thought of Esme from Twilight series - very pretty name

Rakker - oh my goodness are you coping in this heat? Argh I just want to be on leave! My doctor wants to book me off from 36 weeks because of work stress.

I hope all you other ladies and babies are doing fabulously

Esmari - A very Happy Birthday to your LG She must be so happy and excited today. I remember when I turned 5 I told EVERYONE that I saw at school that I was having a party and that they must all come...and they did. MY poor mother nearly died!!!! Please share a pic of your cake

Karien I had such a good laugh re your names. They really are lovely names though!! Pity.

Um, antenatal class was a bit disappointing. I was the only one there. One lady canceled and the other postponed - but she will be there next week. We went through nutrition, preggy niggles, what's normal and when to call the Dr or go to emergency, do's and dont's, relaxation techniques. Basically nothing that we don't all already know. I did learn a few stretching exercises and she recommended a 75cm ball for sitting on in the office to help ease the back ache and (ahem ) bad posture!!!! Next week we will be discussing natural birth and watching a video, following week will be pain relief options and videos of water birth etc. Week after will be csec and a video. Then after that will be taking care of your body after birth and the last two weeks will be looking after new born. The classes last for 1 1/2 hours.

I read on the internet yesterday that one woman did quite aggressive perineal stretching exercises and baby just slid out - no probs. She said her and her dh would stretch the area till it hurt and then ease and then stretch again till it really hurt etc. Her Dr was amazed that she didn't tear of have any damage she said. Now that is my idea of what I want. I do NOT fancy tearing and having stitches. I'd rather have a csec to avoid tearing and damage down there!!!!

When my nephew was born 15 years ago, he used to communicate with my sister and her hubby by sign language. It was amazing to watch them. But they knew what he wanted without him saying anything, he just used to sign to them - from about 6 months old. They worked out their own sign language. Now I see there are classes you can go to. I'm very keen to give it a go. It never affected his language skills and he wasn't slow to talk but the signing just filled in the gap between communicating before he could talk. Huggies SA and Huggies.com.au has quite a bit on it on their website.

Hi all.

MsDee, thinking of you and praying that you will find comfort in this time.

Ertjie, good luck with the boy name. Picking names is not always as easy as it sounds. I also want to work as long as possible, but don't know if it will work out. And I really don't want to miss out on all those public holidays, because if it falls in my maternity leave, it is unpaid, so I don't want to be cheated in that way.

Solo, how was the ante natal class? I was really dissappointed that I only got to attend 2 of my 7 classes last time. Some of the info is really valuable, but some of it will be old news for you.

TaNasha, I think I only put a beanie on LB's head once, while in hospital. The temperature inside the hospital was perfect, so I didn't feel the need to keep it on.

Karienh, LOL @ the dog names . The things they tell you to do to prepare for birth is pelvic floor muscle exercises and perineal massage (with olive oil). I did neither of these as they advise you start doing it at 35 weeks and I never even reached 35 weeks. Contracting the pelvic floor muscles is easy to do any time anywhere. You can do it while sitting at your desk at work. The perineal massage will probably be done by your DH as it will be difficult for you to reach down there...

Betty_F, you are also cutting it very close with your ML. But it is exactly what I'm going to do, so hope it works out for us.

AHA?, I feel your pain regarding the 3D. The face is what you really want to see, damnit. But that little face in real life is what it is about in the end and worth the wait. My bags are packed. Just need to add another nighty and feeding bra and anti perspirant, then I can relax. Isn't it ironic that I have everything packed at 32 weeks already and will probably go full term this time? Last time I wanted to pack the bags at 35 weeks... Needless to say, I was packing bags at 2:30 in the morning and forgot half of the stuff. So rather early than late.

Esmari, let's hope this one stays longer on the inside. My gynae says it is not guaranteed that a baby will be born prem when the previous pregnancy ended up in premature birth. Not sure what caused your LG's prem birth, so that might also make a difference. Good luck with picking a name.

AFM: 32 weeks today and time is dragging like never before. We actually had a girl name chosen when I was pregnant with my son, when I still thought he was a girl, LOL. So this time the name was so easy, because we had the name already. I also chose a second name without any hassle. She will be known as Cherise Cecilia. Cherise is just a name I have always liked. No profound meaning. It means cherry, LOL. And Cecilia is one of my mother's names. My LB has DH's dad's name as a second name and now I have used my mom's second name, so a bit of both sides of the family.

Mornings

Aha, yes, it was a real bad time for me/us. And it makes me scared that this one is also going to be prem. And I don't want that!
Can't wait for your pics!

MsDee, I can't imagine what you are going through. Know where your strenght comes from!

Tanasha, what you must remember regards the beany. Your baby is used to the warmth of your womb. When that baby comes out, she cant controll her body heat yet. Thats why they dress them in vests and long sleeve babygrows and beanies, and wrap them. And ja, the hospital is cold. You wil know when your baby is ready to go without. Its just instinct.

Betty_f, thanks for the birthday wishes. She is so happy today. Have to bake her cake just now so that I can decorate tomorrow. Its for saturday. We want to move in friday 25th, cause the new tenants want to move in the saturday. Its a great feeling to know that they are doing all this just cause its us moving in.

Karienh, packing going slowly, but getting there.

Ok, I also need some name advice. My son has dh and his dads names. My lg is a combo between my gran and me(Elizabeth) and my mil(Marie) - lize-mari.
I would like to use my grandads names (Hermanus Lampbertus Gerhardus) and my dad Marius. I have come up with Gerhardt, but I dont know what to do with my dads name. Oh, our surname is Jacobs. Any suggestions?

Mornings

Aha, yes, it was a real bad time for me/us. And it makes me scared that this one is also going to be prem. And I don't want that!
Can't wait for your pics!

MsDee, I can't imagine what you are going through. Know where your strenght comes from!

Tanasha, what you must remember regards the beany. Your baby is used to the warmth of your womb. When that baby comes out, she cant controll her body heat yet. Thats why they dress them in vests and long sleeve babygrows and beanies, and wrap them. And ja, the hospital is cold. You wil know when your baby is ready to go without. Its just instinct.

Betty_f, thanks for the birthday wishes. She is so happy today. Have to bake her cake just now so that I can decorate tomorrow. Its for saturday. We want to move in friday 25th, cause the new tenants want to move in the saturday. Its a great feeling to know that they are doing all this just cause its us moving in.

Karienh, packing going slowly, but getting there.

Ok, I also need some name advice. My son has dh and his dads names. My lg is a combo between my gran and me(Elizabeth) and my mil(Marie) - lize-mari.
I would like to use my grandads names (Hermanus Lampbertus Gerhardus) and my dad Marius. I have come up with Gerhardt, but I dont know what to do with my dads name. Oh, our surname is Jacobs. Any suggestions?

Solo – how was the child birth classes?
Yeah on the name! Garret is a really nice name. now if only I can think of a name…

Esmari – hope you are feeling better. I also had some dizzy feeling spells last night, I think I was just too tired, also climbed into bed at 8.
Wow! What an hectic day 5 years ago. I don’t know how one deals with all that emotions.

TaNasha – I like Esme Marjan! Very nice.
Do you mean wearing hats in general or after they are born?
After they are born it’s a good idea to put on a little beanie too keep baby warm (remember the hospital has aircon). When you are home and it’s hot – do as you please. My LG never really wore hats except for her beanies in hospital –also born in summer.

Ertjie – working till the last minute! Sjoe, good luck. I thought I would be able to do that with my first pregnancy, but eventually because of work etc took my own leave in Dec and ML started in Jan, and I couldn’t wait for my leave to start. I just had enough. Take it easy. I’m taking leave from the 5th of May EDD is 31 May.

Karienh – LOL! naming your child after dead dogs… sorry that would have been so funny.
But otherwise really nice names.

BettyF – you also cutting it close with your ML. hats off too you girl.


MsDee – just want to say I’m praying you find the strength to get through this.

AFM – had the 3D scan yesterday (forgot my CD, so will update with photos next week). LG wasn’t sharing too much, pretty much saw her foot. LOL! she did show us her face rather quickly, but at least we got to see it.
I need to start get my bag packed. Have not started with a thing.