Thread: Wendy's (wendles) Birthing Lodge - prenatal

Hi Wendy! I'm NAK and can't type too well but I wanted to make the effort to start your lodge since you were so supportive in mine. Happy 36 weeks!

Yay Wendy has a lodge!!!!

(wow - we're going to have lots of babies soon - check out all those lodges!)

-Jodi

Wow, time has gone by so fast! I remember you annoucing that you were pregnant! Congrats momma! I am looking forward to reading your journey!

Thank you so much for starting my lodge Michelle! I can't believe the time is here... I saw Jodi's start and it hit me that I was going to be soon! This is such a great board and a wonderfully supportive group of ladies, I am honored to be a part of it.

I will give you my story sometime later today when I have a bit more time, right now I am doing some errands around the house. I got the lawn mowed and am trying to clean out the inside of our truck (well Pathfinder). There is a baby seat clinic tomorrow at a local ambulance place so I am planning to go and have them check out our seat and installation. (We received the seat second-hand, it is relatively new and never been in an accident, but figured it's better to be safe.)

Oh, and a quick update on baby status I totally expect to go later than my due date (Aug. 1). There is nothing happening in the baby department. Baby has been head down for months and seems to be a good little stinker so far!

Wow, time has really flown! Welcome to your lodge Wendy.

Congrats on your lodge...I remember when you announced your pregnancy too. It's funny how time flies when your aren't the one growing the baby!

Here is my intro... my husband Ryan and I met while attending a local college for Computer Systems Technology. He had a girlfriend, but it didn't seem like he was too happy in the relationship. After some chasing from me we got together and moved in together during our first year. School was draining and busy, and I seem to recall starting to hint about marriage after our first year. Things just seemed so right. We were happy together, he had a great sense of humor, and we were so comfortable with each other.

He proposed that December giving me the engagement ring he had pointed out in a store but me insisting it cost too much (although that was the one I had chosen as well!) We planned a wedding for May because that was when we finished our 2 year course and would be starting a new phase in our lives. We graduated one weekend, got married the next, took 2 weeks to go camping, then started new jobs!

We got married in 2001 then purchased a house in 2003. We've had my brother and Ryan's sister living with us off and on (probably one or the other 90% of the time) since we have been here. In preparation for the baby, SIL moved out last month, and my brother is moving out as I type! As lovely as it was to have people around, I am really looking forward to having my own place for my growing family. Anyways... back to the baby story.

I started getting baby urges 2 years ago (I think it was). They only got stronger. We had decided that we would TTC in early/middle 2007. Last summer I went off birth control and started charting. Things were going great, I was getting in tune with my body, and then in a groggy state one morning, I transposed two numbers of my temperature. That was enough for me to think I had ovulated and "fly with the wind" That September we were surprised to learn we were expecting a baby. So many emotions went through us. We had not planned the pregnancy and were "close" to being ready. Slowly we got used to the idea, we were excited yet scared to death.

Approximately 6 or 7 weeks into the pregnancy, I had some spotting. After doing some research I had convinced myself that spotting could be very normal but after the second bout I decided to see my doctor. She sent me for an ultrasound (I think it was around 8 weeks). The tech wasn't able to see anything with a regular ultrasound and had to move to vaginal. She kept saying baby was so small she was having troubles taking pictures. She didn't say anything other than that. When she was finally done, the main guy came in and told us that they weren't able to see a heartbeat and baby was the size of a 6 week baby.

We left and I was devastated. I stayed home from work for a couple days, cried and mourned. The baby wasn't planned but it really affected me emotionally. I miscarried on my own in the 9th week.

We had *just* told our parents that we were expecting, and the following week learned that the baby didn't make it. We felt kind of silly, but there was nothing we could do.

That experience made us realize we were ready to have a baby. I kept wondering if was healthy (emotionally) to try again right away but when the time came I thought I was ready. The OB I had seen had said that my body had cleaned itself out and we were given the green light to try again. She recommended waiting one cycle for dating purposes, but if a "surprise" happened (she said with a twinkle in her eye) that would be ok.

I wasn't concerned about LMP because at that point I had done tons of reading and knew how to date my ovulation. The first ovulation after our miscarriage was coming upon us, and the "marathon" began

If my body was working correctly and there were no problems with Ryan's, there was no way I wouldn't be pregnant! I held out until day 18 to test. There were 2 lines, as we had suspected. We found out we were pregnant in November.

We told our parents just before Christmas and crossed our fingers that everything would go well. Christmas came and went, I still seemed to be doing fine (didn't really feel pregnant and forgot I was sometimes!). We waiting until the second trimester to tell friends and extended family.

This pregnancy has been fantastic. I didn't ever have morning sickness (unless you count nausea off and on, and dry heaves a couple of mornings) and normal pregnancy symptoms have been very minimal (except for lack of sleep, which I suspect is normal!).

The beginning of June my doctor suggested that I go on medical leave. My plan was to work right up until the due date, but when she offered I took her up on it. I had been taking up to 2 naps daily at work, and was a wet noodle the rest of the evening. By the time I got home and made/had supper, I was ready for bed. I don't suspect that was good for either baby or me.

Since being home I had got lots of baby-related projects done. I made prefold diapers, nursery curtains, baby wipes. I am also working on a baby quilt. I asked women in my life (friends, family) to build a quilt block and then I would sew them all together to make a memorable quilt for the baby. (Idea was from Birthing From Within.) So I am quite excited to see that come together. What else... oh yes I am knitting some wool soakers for the baby too. Our plan is to EC, but I want to be prepared with diapers for backup. I have no idea how things are going to go!

Ryan has designed a co-sleeper/crib and dresser/hutch for baby furniture. We have bought all the supplies for that and the plan was to start this week, but he got sidetracked fixing our fence. (It blew over in a storm a month ago).

So, looking at the scroll bar I think I have given you more than enough to read for now! If you made it all this way, congratulations!

Thanks for sharing yourself with us. How awesome that you got pregnant again so easily after your loss. Seems as though you are meant to be a mommy! Congrats!

I didn't read your story yet because I'm heading to bed but I wanted to comment that we also have a pathfinder! Ours is a 95. The police had a heck of a time getting our car seat installed properly. They had to twist the seat belt thingy several times to shorten it enough to work properly. Old trucks and new seats don't go together so well. Our other truck is a Nissan Hustler.. I think it's a 92. It was just as fun. Hopefully your Nissan isn't as old as ours are. DH drives my hustler now and I drive the pathfinder since it has a back seat.

I'll be back to read more tomorrow

Congratulations on your lodge, Wendy! I can't wait to see how things progress for you these next few weeks. Very exciting!!