Pregnancy

Pregnancy: Push Presents

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February 27, 2012 By Jennifer 17 Comments

I have to be honest that this is a concept that is completely foreign to me. The idea of a push present when I had Johnny back in 2000 the idea of a push present was unheard of. To my knowledge I didn’t hear anything about them in 2006 when I had Gavin either. Lately though it’s all I’m hearing about. I’ve even had a few people ask me what I’m asking for as a push present on my facebook page.

What is a Push Present?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
A push present (also known as a “push gift” or “baby bauble”) is a present a new father gives a new mother when she gives birth to their child. In practice the present may be given before or after the birth, or even in the delivery room. The giving of push presents has supposedly grown in the United States in recent years.

I don’t know I just can’t wrap my head around the idea of getting a gift just for having a baby by the baby’s father is ridiculous to me. Isn’t a beautiful, healthy baby gift enough?

Why do we need additional gifts? The gifts I’m reading about aren’t small gifts either! They are talking Tiffany diamonds, tropical vacations, and lavish expensive gifts. Are we really about materializing even the most precious of life’s real gifts?

Am I the only one who feels this way?
If you received a push present why did you feel it was needed?

Filed Under: Pregnancy

Pregnancy Update: 32 Weeks {VBAC, C Section, Gestational Diabetes}

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February 7, 2012 By Jennifer 6 Comments

32 Weeks! Well, 32 weeks 5 days to be exact!

Where has the time gone? I feel like it was just yesterday I was sharing with you my positive pee sticks and still in complete denial. Now, I only have a couple of weeks left. Both my boys were born at 36 weeks so I’m desperately trying to be ready by then, but at the same time I don’t want to focus on the beginning of March when I’m not due until the 29th as it will make a really long month for me.

As you know I failed my gestation diabetes test. It was a week and a half before Christmas when they called to tell me but there was no way I was going to be able to drop what I was doing and sit in my Dr. office and read magazines while they poked me on the hour every hour. The week after the boys were on vacation and if I didn’t want to sit there I knew they wouldn’t. Unfortunately, you aren’t allowed to leave where I go and that made it all that much harder. I scheduled it the first week they went back to school and we had a snow delay. Rescheduled two more times and wouldn’t ya know- two more snow delays. So, one of my Dr’s recommended I do an A1C test which was actually recommended by another blogger, Jenna @ For the Love of Baby. I haven’t heard anything from my Dr. so I’m figuring everything is fine this time because I never heard anything back.

The 3 hour test I hear was horrid. Not just trying to fit it in to the schedule but I had mom’s messaging me letting me know how sick they felt for days afterwards. I was so glad to be able to take the A1C. I didn’t fast and actually had the same routine I had the first time around. Of course had I failed I would have been prepared to take the three hour. Having not heard back I think I’m safe.

At this point I’m aiming for my VBAC. I’m going in as one of those moms who doesn’t have any real set plans. Sawyer will come when he’s ready (I hope) and if not I have a c-section scheduled for 4/2. They won’t allow me to go any farther then that and because of my previous history I can’t be induced. So I’m so hoping that Sawyer comes far before that is needed.

Friday we have an ultrasound scheduled. They think he’s measuring a little big and want to confirm his size. They also want to check in on his position. We know he can still change but with a previous breech baby who locked in at 32 weeks it can give us a standing point. I can’t wait to see him again.

Filed Under: Pregnancy Tagged With: 32 Weeks, C-section, Gestational Diabetes, VBAC

Hospital Bag – Packing Your Hospital Bag for Labor & Delivery!

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January 20, 2012 By Jennifer 5 Comments

The hospital bag can be so overwhelming. While some of us plan to spend less then a day in the hospital others need to plan for up to five days. Regardless of what your birthing plan is you need to remember that things happen and sometimes no matter how much planning you do things happen. Your 24 hour pit stop to have a baby could turn into a week long event. After having a breech baby who refused to turn I learned this the hard way.

Granted, Gavin was a scheduled section but I did try getting him to turn right up until they made that actual cut. I was more prepared with Gavin as with Johnny my husband packed half the bag. I thought I would share my tips on packing a diaper bag for whatever path your delivery takes you so you aren’t left stranded without something you wish you had.

One bag. This doesn’t translate all the time to your diaper bag. This bag needs to work for both of you and not just baby. I’ll be using my Get Carried Away Tote in Floral Nightingale. I got it to originally be my diaper bag and yes I know I’m having a boy but this time around I’m having a bag that I like too. This bag is pretty good size and will accommodate both of us well.

When I had Johnny I packed only for Johnny. I was left with an ugly Johnny (the clothing not my beautiful kid) while I was there and when it came time to go home I realized I had sent home the clothing I came in with home. I sent hubby home to get me something to wear and he thought he was doing me a favor grabbing my favorite pair of size 2 jeans. Problem? I had gained 80 pounds that pregnancy and those jeans barely made it past my knees. This resulted in me bawling my eyes out in the bathroom for over an hour to the realization I wasn’t fitting in those again. I had to wait for him to go back home and get me a pair of my maternity pants.

With Gavin the first thing in the bag was clothing for me to go home in but the was it for clothes. I had a section so for five days I wore the ugly hospital gown. This time I considered getting one of those fashionable hospital gowns but really $40 for a gown I’d never wear again? I couldn’t justify it. So I spent $50 and got myself a great 3 piece nursing pajama set that I could use over and over again. The one I got is identical to this Long Sleeve Tie Front Nursing 3 Piece Set but dark grey. I’ll be able to use it while I nurse, place a robe on when people visit, and use it regularly when I get home. They didn’t have this one in stock when I went to the store to try them on but I’m definitely buying the set pictured because I love the grey one I have.

Everyone remembers that baby needs an outfit to go home in but what about the outfit for when everyone visits? I’d bring 3-4 outfits that baby can wear while you’re there. Make sure to pack both NB and 0-3 month sizes. Outfits that include a hat is a plus. Remember simplicity is key. You will have a lot of your plate and outfits that have buttons, and 20 pieces to it aren’t for the hospital. Stick to simple. I also have a NB gown that has a hat, mitts, and booties.

The baby book. Honestly, I couldn’t even tell you where the boys baby books are. I think they are in the shed. In my defense we had a house fire and while I was able to pull these from the rubble they are dirty and gross and as a result in the shed. Are they completely filled out? Not a chance. I’m the person who fills them out for the first month and then never goes back to them. However, I know you will find their baby bracelet, my bracelet, and their foot prints along with all their info. I was going to skip the baby book but I can’t bring myself to have something for one child and not the others. Both my boys have this adorable Suzy’s Zoo book pictured below. I’ve been on a hunt for the same one for Sawyer but I haven’t been so lucky so I’m still searching.

Other paper products I recommend:

- Notebook
You’ll want something to take notes on when you talk to any specialist. You’ll have ideas that pop into your head, whatever.
-Thank you cards, Stamps, & Address Book
once I got home the time was gone. I was so glad I did this while AT the hospital. I stuck them in the mailbox on my way home.
Paperwork
Do you have a birthing plan? insurance forms, etc. My hospital takes these things in advance but you may want a copy on you just incase.

Toiletries
The hospital will have basic needs on hand if you forget something but if you are like me you just like having your own things. I have my vacation pack with all my needs inside. I’ll be able to go in for the simple things and take the whole pack in for my shower. Having the hook keeps me from having to put things on lower shelves and be bending over constantly. In the event you need a c section you’ll want to avoid bending over at any cost.

Basic toiletries you’ll need: shampoo, conditioner, hair ties (several), brush, hair dryer if you must, soap, lotion, face lotion, face soap, make-up, deodorant, finger nail clippers, nail file, q-tips, chapstick, etc. Some of these you won’t need and some you will. I can’t go without a nail file and a hair tie and I know others that won’t give birth without a face of make up on. Keep personal preferences to your daily needs in mind.

Electronics & Entertainment
I get you are giving birth but you’ll want electronics for both before and after. When I was in the hospital for Gavin I was there for a week and bored beyond belief. I don’t sleep well when I’m not at home so at three am I was going crazy. Gavin was taken from me every night because our chest to chest resting was raising his temperature too much and I was left alone in my room with nothing to do.Many sites will tell you to leave these things at home but with Gavin I was stir crazy in my room and would have died for something to keep me entertained.

Things I will be bringing:
iPad, basic camera and DSLR, batteries,magazines, and a word search.

Make sure to check if your hospital has wi-fi. Download a movie for just incase, worse case you can watch it during a 2am feeding at home. If you have a fancy camera make sure to grab a simple camera too. You’ll want your husband to be involved and when things get crazy around the actual delivery you’ll want to hand your camera out. One thing I’ve learned about fancier cameras is people get scared to touch them and it will result in you missing great photos. I’d rather an okay pic then no pic at all. I do however want my nice camera there for the next morning when I’m all alone with baby and want to have some fun.

I know many of you might be there for just the 24 hours but if you end up there for a week like I did you’ll be so glad you took the time to be prepared. My 48 hour trip with Johnny I still was lacking so much. I’m the girl who’d rather have it then be without it.

Now I get that some of you use some of these things right up until you give birth. Solution? Write these things down on an index card and leave it on top of the pre-packed bag. If you are unsure if your husband would know where to find something leave location next to it. This will make sure you walk out the door with everything you need and if you go into labor and need your husband to go home for the bag he can easily find it and everything you need and get back to you as quickly as possible.

Did I forget something?
Leave me your thoughts in a comment so I can add it to my own bag and my readers can too!

Filed Under: Pregnancy Tagged With: Hospital Bag, Labor & Delivery, pregnancy

Dealing with Gender Disappointment

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January 19, 2012 By Jennifer 60 Comments

I wrote this post the week I found out the gender of this baby. I wrote it without the intentions of publishing it. Then last night I sat at Gavin’s boys only tumbling class and looked around. I was surrounded in a sea of adorable little girls in leotards. His class had only 6 boys in it but ther building was filled with with hundreds of girls. It’s a stadium set up and we sit on a platform looking down to observe so you see it all. There are waiting areas, computer tables, etc. The place is impressive.

There I sat in the middle of it with tears streaming down my face. I know it’s a result of the pregnancy hormones that really pushed me over the edge but I sat there next to another mom with a little girl around Gavin’s age. Her mom was sitting there braiding her hair while they overlooked a sibling in another class. She had on an adorable purple sparkled leotard and she did the same to her american girl doll in the same leotard that looked just like her. It hit me at that moment that I would never experience that.

I posted on facebook about my sadness and I realized that while I felt so guilty for being sad about something so amazing in my life I wasn’t the only one who went through it. The reason I never planned on sharing my post was because I was scared of being judged. Of being told how lucky I should be to be blessed with the little boy I’m carrying and tried for years through failed fertility treatments that I was acting spoiled and ungrateful. Thing is I do feel lucky. I understand the gift I’ve been given.

But while one dream was happening another dream is ending. The dream of having a little girl, a daughter.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here’s the original post I wrote:

I wanted a daughter. I said it.

Before you judge me and criticize my statement you must listen to my words. I wanted a daughter and I will have all sons. This child I am pregnant with is an amazing beautiful miracle that I am blissfully happy about. I can’t wait to meet his little face and hold him in my arms. I love him to pieces already.

You wanted a girl.
No, I wanted a daughter. The two aren’t related and people are missing that.

From the very first moment of my very first pregnancy I dreamed of having a daughter. Of brushing her hair and teaching her how to french braid it. Painting her fingernails and getting her ears pierced. Putting her in dance class and seeing her in a tutu. Of her growing up and taking her dress shopping for her first prom.Letting her lean on me the first time her heart is broken. Being there to help her pick out her wedding dress and watching my husband walk her down the isle.

These are the things that I will never experience and it breaks my heart.

So, please PLEASE stop treating me like I don’t love my son. Stop acting like I can’t be sad. Stop making me feel like I’m a horrible mother because I’m heart broken that I will never have a daughter. I love my son and I am THRILLED to be pregnant and thrilled to be blessed with another AMAZING boy.

You see this is our last baby so while I normally wouldn’t think twice about being sad during such a happy time I know that there are no other chances. Yesterday I went shopping to celebrate and couldn’t help but stare at everything pink and purple and get teary eyed knowing I would never be buying those for my own child. I watched a little girl hold her father’s hand while skipping into Build-A-Bear and thought how I will never experience that.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m okay. It’s okay. I am allowed to be sad without others implying the fact that I don’t love my son because you couldn’t be farther from the truth and in reality you are only making this harder on me by making me feel bad so please stop calling me and telling me it will be okay because I already know that. Please stop telling me it’s not as bad as it seems because never for a moment have I thought any of this was bad. In fact I’ve accepted the fact this baby is a boy and I’ve embraced it. Please stop making me feel as though I’m a horrible mom for feeling this way because I’m a good mom. One that loves her boys- all THREE of them!

Filed Under: Pregnancy Tagged With: Daughter, Disappointment, Gender, pregnancy, Son