Baby Showers and Hyperemesis

32 Weeks

Woo Hoo!  I made it to 32 weeks!  Take THAT Dr. S!

I don't know why I'm even bothering with the Procardia at this point, it's not doing a darn thing!  I've found that the Braxton Hicks contractions are not as frequent, but the real ones (yes there is a difference in where the tightening is) are happening every 10 minutes or so.  I know most doctors would say "If you're having them more than 6 times an hour, go to the hospital."  But I know that unless my doctor is there, or maybe one other doctor from the practice, they'd all just send me home right away.  Unless of course my water broke.

So, I go on with my days, with moments of pain every 8-10 minutes.

At this week's check-up, things are progressing, or regressing depending on your point of view.  Thinning again, back to where everything was a month ago before my miraculous thickening.  At this rate, we estimate between 34-35 week delivery.  My son was a 35 week-er, and though I hated the 10 day NICU stay, we survived it just fine.

We had a small baby shower this week, I'm so thankful for my friends.  Anyone who knows me knows that I love to entertain... so this was the perfect excuse!  Especially since I really haven't seen many of my friends throughout the pregnancy, because of how sick I was.

As always, I prepared way to much food, but in my defense, I was expecting more people than were able to come.  I always prepare for the maybe's, just in case.

I loved having everyone over, and then crashed on the couch immediately after everyone left.  I was exhausted.  Then, I got sick.

Joy, hyperemesis is back...

I've not had much of an appetite this week, and too much to drink made me feel "swishy," but I hadn't gotten sick in weeks!  But now it's back.  Maybe it's the changing of hormones to prepare for the birth, but I just feel yucky and don't want to leave my bed, let alone my house.

Baby Wearing…?

"Wearing" your baby seems to be more common than it had been 5, 7, and 8 years ago when my other children were born.

Before, the only option available was the harness things.  Then all of a sudden these wraps were everywhere.

The babies look so comfortable, and so do the moms!  I love the idea of holding my child, yet still have a free hand.  And people have told me that it's really easy to nurse while wearing their babies.

But there seems to be so many options, and you have to get the right "size" for your body.  Then there's the whole learning how to tie these things...

I met a mom a few months ago who had the most awesome looking sling ever - I can't remember what it was called now, but it started with an H, and she said I could find it on Amazon.  But I couldn't!  It was just 1 piece, no tying necessary; just 1 big piece of material folded in half and the baby sat snuggly inside.  I wanted it!  But I can't find it (so if ANYONE knows what this is, please let me know!).

I mean, these slings and wraps are fairly intimidating... And they never show a woman wearing a tiny infant; usually a 6 month old who can sit up.   I want to see someone wearing a newborn baby!  I've seen a couple of YouTube videos on wraps with newborns, but they weren't helpful to me.

So here are a few that I've found:  PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!  I really want to get a baby wrap/sling, but have NO IDEA what works in the real world!  Something that either my husband or I could use, something where I could pick baby up and go, without worrying about adjusting every 10 minutes, something that will help me nurse discretely (with a cover, too, of course), and something that will last!


Mobi Wrap:  This thing looks so intimidating...  I mean, every YouTube demonstration takes like 8 minutes just to tie it before they put their baby in.  I want something where I can pick my baby out of it's carseat and just be on my way...









 Boba Wrap:  This one is fairly similar to the Mobi, and they say its "Ideal" for nursing.  How...?










Lite On Shoulder Wrap:  This one is similar to what I've found like the lady who I met.  And their ads do show younger babies, as well as toddlers (why you'd want to wear a toddler is beyond me...)

Sling Pouch:  Finally, 1 piece.  However, it looks like a new product, and only 2 Amazon reviews... so not too sure if I want to try this one or not.









         Baby K'tan:  Again, another wrap, and you've got to find your "size".  All the reviews I've read said the sizing chart was not true to their bodies; but it was inconsistent.  Some said it ran small, others, big...







Seven Slings:  Looks like it's one piece, which I like.  But also looks like you need to find "your size," and the reviews are pretty poor…









So please, if you are a baby wearing mom, let me know what kind you are using, and how it's working for you!

Is A Baby Shower OK For Baby #4?

Going in to this pregnancy, we'd gotten rid of just about everything.

We have some outfits for each of the kids, our favorites, and the ones not ruined by spit-up. 

Any toys we'd gotten rid of because of concerns for the chemicals in the plastic.  

We don't have a crib anymore, and the old baby carseat is long since expired.  

High chair had it's last meal a few years ago...

http://www.toysrus.com/registry/
Registry #: 52002962

So now here we are, expecting another baby.

We've had several friends ask us if we were going to have a baby shower... and several people tell me that if I'm thinking about having one, to not.

So I don't know.... The last baby shower I had was for Samantha, almost 9 years ago.

Anyone who knows me, knows I love to have a party; why not have one for just the baby.  I mean, we still have a few clothes, and I've been slowly stocking up on diapers (very slowly).

I mean, a diaper party isn't too unreasonable, is it?  Or a casserole party?  I mean, I'm having a hard enough time feeding my family with my being so sick, what's it going to be like once the baby's here?  Plenty of people have asked if they could help, and we've accepted, but then it slipped their mind or life happened…

http://www.toysrus.com/registry/
Registry #: 52002962 

Hubby and I had a few evenings to ourselves while the kids were visiting my parents, so we went and did a baby registry.  Not really planning to have a shower; it was more to see all the things that we didn't have… it's  a long list.   We did sign up for the Babies R Us V.I.B. (Very Important Baby) program - where was this when my other kids were little?  Friends and family can contribute to a gift card, that can be used for diapers, formula and baby food, and then Toys 'R' Us adds an additional 5%.

So that is the question: to have baby shower or to not have a baby shower…?  This the the response I got from a 30+ mom group on WhatToExpect.com.  Still not sure what to do...