For the last week or two, I've been feeling some little taps inside my belly. They're usually just below my belly button and slightly to the left. They're not very strong or very often, and I've been debating whether they are actually *baby* movement versus something else. It's really hard to tell this early.
As I've been sitting here this morning, I've gotten a couple of taps in that same spot, and I just got two in a row directly under my belly button along with a little "slidey" sensation. I know it's early days yet -- I'm only 12 weeks -- but I'm really starting to think that Baby is trying to say hello!
This is so cool! I didn't feel Anna until somewhere around 18-19 weeks. I wasn't expecting movement this soon, but I love it! Now I can't wait until it gets more consistent. This is my favorite part of being pregnant!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sleep training -- funny!
I think Anna must have read these instructions as a baby! It must come in the Secret Baby Handbook. I just thought it was something fun to share!
Sleep Training...
OK, here's my situation. My Mommy has had me for almost 7 months. The first few months were great--I cried, she picked me up and fed me, anytime, day or night. Then something happened. Over the last few weeks, she has been trying to STTN (sleep thru the night). At first, I thought it was just a phase, but it is only getting worse. I've talked to other babies, and it seems like it's pretty common after Mommies have had us for around 6 months.
Here's the thing: these Mommies don't really need to sleep. It's just a habit. Many of them have had some 30 years to sleep--they just don't need it anymore. So I am implementing a plan. I call it the Crybaby Shuffle.
It goes like this:
Night 1--cry every 3 hours until you get fed.I know, it's hard. It's hard to see your Mommy upset over your crying. Just keep reminding yourself, it's for her own good.
Night 2--cry every 2 hours until you get fed.
Night 3--every hour. Most Mommies will start to respond more quickly after about 3 nights. Some Mommies are more alert, and may resist the change longer. These Mommies may stand in your doorway for hours, shhhh-ing. Don't give in. I cannot stress this enough: CONSISTENCY IS KEY!! If you let her STTN (sleep through the night), just once, she will expect it every night. I KNOW IT'S HARD! But she really does not need the sleep, she is just resisting the change.
If you have an especially alert Mommy, you can stop crying for about 10 minutes, just long enough for her to go back to bed and start to fall asleep. Then cry again. It WILL eventually work. My Mommy once stayed awake for 10 hours straight, so I know she can do it.
Last night, I cried every hour. You just have to decide to stick to it and just go for it. BE CONSISTENT! I cried for any reason I could come up with.
My sleep sack tickled my foot.
I felt a wrinkle under the sheet.
My mobile made a shadow on the wall.
I burped, and it tasted like pears (I hadn't eaten pears since lunch -what's up with that?)
The cat said "meow" (I should know. My Mommy reminds me of this about 20 times a day. LOL.)
Once I cried just because I liked how it sounded when it echoed on the monitor in the other room. Too hot, too cold, just right--doesn't matter! Keep crying!!
It took a while, but it worked. She fed me at 4am. Tomorrow night, my goal is 3:30am. You need to slowly shorten the interval between feedings in order to reset your Mommies' internal clocks.
P.S. Don't let those rubber things fool you, no matter how long you suck on them, NO milk will come out! Trust me.
Sleep Training...
OK, here's my situation. My Mommy has had me for almost 7 months. The first few months were great--I cried, she picked me up and fed me, anytime, day or night. Then something happened. Over the last few weeks, she has been trying to STTN (sleep thru the night). At first, I thought it was just a phase, but it is only getting worse. I've talked to other babies, and it seems like it's pretty common after Mommies have had us for around 6 months.
Here's the thing: these Mommies don't really need to sleep. It's just a habit. Many of them have had some 30 years to sleep--they just don't need it anymore. So I am implementing a plan. I call it the Crybaby Shuffle.
It goes like this:
Night 1--cry every 3 hours until you get fed.I know, it's hard. It's hard to see your Mommy upset over your crying. Just keep reminding yourself, it's for her own good.
Night 2--cry every 2 hours until you get fed.
Night 3--every hour. Most Mommies will start to respond more quickly after about 3 nights. Some Mommies are more alert, and may resist the change longer. These Mommies may stand in your doorway for hours, shhhh-ing. Don't give in. I cannot stress this enough: CONSISTENCY IS KEY!! If you let her STTN (sleep through the night), just once, she will expect it every night. I KNOW IT'S HARD! But she really does not need the sleep, she is just resisting the change.
If you have an especially alert Mommy, you can stop crying for about 10 minutes, just long enough for her to go back to bed and start to fall asleep. Then cry again. It WILL eventually work. My Mommy once stayed awake for 10 hours straight, so I know she can do it.
Last night, I cried every hour. You just have to decide to stick to it and just go for it. BE CONSISTENT! I cried for any reason I could come up with.
My sleep sack tickled my foot.
I felt a wrinkle under the sheet.
My mobile made a shadow on the wall.
I burped, and it tasted like pears (I hadn't eaten pears since lunch -what's up with that?)
The cat said "meow" (I should know. My Mommy reminds me of this about 20 times a day. LOL.)
Once I cried just because I liked how it sounded when it echoed on the monitor in the other room. Too hot, too cold, just right--doesn't matter! Keep crying!!
It took a while, but it worked. She fed me at 4am. Tomorrow night, my goal is 3:30am. You need to slowly shorten the interval between feedings in order to reset your Mommies' internal clocks.
P.S. Don't let those rubber things fool you, no matter how long you suck on them, NO milk will come out! Trust me.
Monday, January 29, 2007
A letter to Baby
Dear Baby,
You are SO grounded. No television for a month after you're born. Well, unless you happen to like Baby Einstein as much as your big sister did, in which case I might make an exception so I can get an occasional break. But definitely no video games.
I know you're working really hard to grow big and strong, and I'm sure you're not very concerned with what is going on in the big, cold world outside. I must point out, however, that you would probably have an easier time if you would allow Mommy to actually EAT something occasionally.
Yes, the wonderful midwife has given me Zofran, but Baby, that medication is expensive, and it really doesn't amuse Mommy that you made me so sick after missing just a couple of pills when I ran out the other day. It's really not fair for your big sister, Anna, to have to set Mommy up on the couch with a big bowl, a towel, and a hair scrunchie, so that I wouldn't have to run to the bathroom again.
Just in case you haven't read the Official Pregnancy Memo, this "morning sickness" (and whatever MAN named it that was an idiot -- it's All Freaking Day Long Sickness!) is supposed to go away at the end of the first trimester. That would be...right about now. Just so you know.
So please, Baby, won't you give Mommy a break here? I'm not asking for much. Just a little variety to my diet. Clementine oranges are getting old fast, and if I never see another popsicle, it will be too soon.
Love,
Mommy
You are SO grounded. No television for a month after you're born. Well, unless you happen to like Baby Einstein as much as your big sister did, in which case I might make an exception so I can get an occasional break. But definitely no video games.
I know you're working really hard to grow big and strong, and I'm sure you're not very concerned with what is going on in the big, cold world outside. I must point out, however, that you would probably have an easier time if you would allow Mommy to actually EAT something occasionally.
Yes, the wonderful midwife has given me Zofran, but Baby, that medication is expensive, and it really doesn't amuse Mommy that you made me so sick after missing just a couple of pills when I ran out the other day. It's really not fair for your big sister, Anna, to have to set Mommy up on the couch with a big bowl, a towel, and a hair scrunchie, so that I wouldn't have to run to the bathroom again.
Just in case you haven't read the Official Pregnancy Memo, this "morning sickness" (and whatever MAN named it that was an idiot -- it's All Freaking Day Long Sickness!) is supposed to go away at the end of the first trimester. That would be...right about now. Just so you know.
So please, Baby, won't you give Mommy a break here? I'm not asking for much. Just a little variety to my diet. Clementine oranges are getting old fast, and if I never see another popsicle, it will be too soon.
Love,
Mommy
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Midwife Visit 1-25-07
Today was my second visit with my midwife, Karen. I chose a midwife this time because I really want to do everything possible to have a natural childbirth. Karen delivers at the hospital and works with a team of OBs who will back her up if needed, so there will be doctors available immediately in the small chance of an emergency.
Our first visit included an ultrasound, and I wasn't really expecting another one today because at 11 weeks, it's usually possible to pick up the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler. Karen had trouble locating the baby's heartbeat with the Doppler, so she sent us in for a quick peek with an ultrasound. The baby is doing great. S/he was dancing around and waving at us, and the heart rate was 165. My placenta is anterior, which means it's in the front and muffling the baby's heartbeat right now. We should be able to hear it next time with no problem!
Anna was very excited to see the baby, and she also got to hold a little rubber baby that represented a 10-week-old fetus. She thought it was really neat to see how big our baby is right now and actually get to hold it in her hand!
I'm attaching ultrasound pictures from my first and second ultrasound. I think the changes are amazing. At our first scan, the baby was 7 weeks and looked like a little fuzzy jelly bean. Now it looks more like a little gummy bear. You can see little hands and feet!
Baby Bean is on the way!
We're expecting! I decided to create this blog so that our friends and family can read updates on our pregnancy and how our baby is doing. Enjoy!
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