In a Baby World

From the moment I found out I was pregnant in April, my cat “Peanut” has been acting like some kind of crazed stalker towards me.  He’s been constantly kneading on me or around me in my bed, meowing and purring at me to pet him on his cheeks, and rubbing his head on my arm until I pay attention to him.

He’s never been this way with me before, so I can only imagine that he is doing these things because he can sense that I am pregnant.

It was especially bad last night into this morning when he just wouldn’t get the hint from me pushing him away.  He just kept coming back demanding attention.  Just like a stalker would.

How did your pets react when you were pregnant? Did they demand excessive amounts of attention?  Did they do anything completely out of character?  Did it stop once the baby was born?

photo credit: cooljinny

Well, I am 5 months pregnant and I must say that my “normal” clothing is not fitting like it used to.

Yesterday, I wore a shirt with maternity pants that didn’t quite work out so well.  In fact, since the maternity pants were the “low rise” type, they made things worse.  The bottom of my belly was somewhat uncovered at times during the day, and I felt as though I was committing a fashion crime.

So, today I wore a nice maternity shirt that covered everything and then some.  I felt fabulous!  Everything was covered, and I was very comfortable.

Pants have been an issue, too.  Some of the low-rise pants and shorts I have are not comfortable.  Honestly, I prefer to wear the type that offer full-belly coverage.

I have also found that the BeBand from Target works well at this stage.  The band is a nylon/spandex band of fabric that is worn over unbuttoned, unzipped pants or shorts.  It works by letting you keep wearing your regular clothing for as long as you can.

I love this band because sometimes I want to wear my regular pants or shorts.  Sometimes you just have to be creative in order to not spend an outrageous amount of money.

I was also able to borrow a nice amount of maternity clothing from friends that fills in the gaps when needed.  However, in the fall I will have to buckle down and purchase some cooler-weather types of maternity clothing because the majority of what I have is for the summer.

So, what do you wear when you are expecting?  Do you have friends that can lend their maternity clothing to you? How creative do you get?

photo credit: Grammatic Error

The second post in the Summer Camping series on the Mom’s Talk Network of blogs is about camping with infants.  People often wonder if it is a good idea to go camping while they have such a young baby.  The answer is yes! It is a great way to spend time with your infant and enjoy the outdoors at the same time.

Below are some tips to make the camping trip enjoyable for both baby and parents.

Keep Them Comfy

Whether you are camping in a tent or cabin, you will want to bring along a play yard.  You will want to make sure the baby is content in the play yard while you set-up your tent, unpack, and arrange your site.  Keep those pesky bugs away by placing a mosquito net over the play yard.

When it’s time for bed, dress baby in pajamas that will be weather appropriate, and make sure you have a cozy blanket to keep the baby warm if the temperature will be dipping lower at night.

Hiking With Baby

There are two ways to enjoy having baby with you on a hike.  The first way is to invest in a sturdy baby backpack.  Baby backpacks range in size, color, and price but they are a very useful tool while hiking.  Another way to hike with baby is using a stroller.

Keep the Routine

You will want to keep the same nap and bedtime routine you have at home while you are camping.  A fussy baby who hasn’t had a nap can throw a wrench into the peaceful vacation!

Mealtimes should stay on the same schedule, as well.  If baby is eating solid foods, bring the same types he or she is being fed at home to stay consistent.

Bring along any special blanket, stuffed animal, or pacifier that the baby uses for comfort.  Being in a new place could be confusing to baby and they could definitely use a source of comfort!

Safety First

While packing, remember to bring a first-aid kit and sunscreen.  Although the sun may not be as intense as the beach, the baby needs to be protected from the sun that he or she is exposed to.

Most of all, enjoy your time with baby while camping!

photo credit: Graham and Sheila

During this week, the blogs on the Mom’s Talk Network will be discussing all types of things that have to do with summer camping.

Here on In a Baby World, I will be sharing tips for those who are pregnant or those who have small children that will help in maximizing the enjoyment of the camping experience.

Camping While Pregnant

Camping can be a fun way to escape and get in touch with nature, but not everything about camping is always pleasant. Below are some tips that women in any stage of pregnancy can use.

Comfort is Key.

Wear appropriate hiking shoes, sneakers, or boots that cushion and support your feet during hikes through rough terrain.  Flip flops or sandals don’t give the support that you need, although they do look cute!  Keep in mind that your feet may swell a bit, so make sure to take a break and elevate your feet when you can.

Sleeping arrangements can often be cramped and uncomfortable when camping, and we all know that being pregnant can be, too.  If possible, bring an air mattress and put your sleeping bag on top so that you will have adequate cushioning.  If an air mattress is not in the cards, then use extra blankets or an extra sleeping bag to soften the surface that you will be sleeping on.  Don’t forget, a body pillow or a pregnancy pillow can also provide extra comfort.

Don’t Overdo It.

When camping, it’s easy to get wrapped-up in all of the activities of the day. Be conscience of what you are doing and take it easy.  Listen to your body, and if you start to feel like you are doing too much, take a break. Take as many as you need! You are on vacation, and you deserve it!

Know Where The Bathrooms Are

Try to choose a campsite that has bathroom facilities or a latrine close by.  It’s no fun trying to find a spot to “go” in the forest, especially while pregnant.  Make sure you have a decent lantern or flashlight to light the way in the dark for those late-night or early-morning trips to answer the call of nature.

Don’t Forget To Stay Hydrated!

Camping can be a lot of fun, but it’s easy to forget to keep drinking water.  Keep a bottle of cold water with you at all times, and keep drinking!

Have fun, enjoy the time with your family, and roast plenty of marshmallows!

photo credit: Mike Miley

Well, we found out this morning that we are having another baby girl! I made sure to ask the Doctor to double check the technician’s findings because well, you just never can be too sure.  He verified that indeed, it is a girl.

Now from the beginning of the pregnancy, I swore up and down that this one was a boy.  I even bet my sister-in-law actual money because I “knew” that it was a boy.  Then I started wondering if I made a hasty mistake in betting the $50 because I took some of those gender predicting tests and they both predicted a girl for this pregnancy.

Below are the two tests I took:

The Chinese Gender Chart

I used the Chinese Gender Chart on  iVillage to get my results and it predicted a girl.  This chart is believed to be over 700 years old and uses your age at conception and the month of conception to get the results, which are said to be over 90% accurate.

The Needle and Thread Method

I also used the needle and thread method and it predicted a girl.  This method involves a threaded needle (about 4-5 inches worth of thread) and an “administrator” of the test.  The pregnant woman sits down and puts out her closed right hand, palm side up so that the administrator can “tap” the threaded needle on the pregnant woman’s wrist a few times. The needle should be still after the tapping.

Then, it will gently start to move either in a circle or back and forth.  If you have children already, the needle will know and swing in a circle for a girl, or back and forth for a boy (which it did swing in a circle for my daughter).  This will happen as many times for as many children you have.  Then once the needle gets to the new baby to be born, it will either circle around or go back and forth.  That will be your gender prediction for the new baby.

This method actually can predict any future children you may have.  My needle stopped dead after this baby.  So that means that technically, I am finished having children.  We shall see!

Have you ever used these or any other gender prediction methods? How accurate were they for you?

photo credit: Red Rose Exile

Every day is a new adventure in eating when I am pregnant.  With my daughter, I barely ate anything significant from 6 weeks until 4.5 months.  It’s amazing that I ended up gaining 45 lbs. with her because I was down about 10 lbs. from being sick for so long.

With this pregnancy, I am eating.  Yes, in the beginning it was pretty rough but I still ate a decent amount of food pretty much every day.

What’s different is what I am eating this time.  I am eating based on what I am craving from breakfast until dinner, which makes me wonder what cravings really mean when you are pregnant?

Random Cravings

With my daughter, I can only say that once I could eat I wanted stuffing and mashed potatoes (real, please) mixed together.  After that, I just ate a lot of whatever crossed my path.  Two breakfasts, a big lunch, dinner, dessert, and maybe an extra dinner some nights. (more…)

With 5 days until we find out the sex of the baby, I am being asked by many people the inevitable question “do you have names picked out yet?”

The answer is, no.

Past Experiences Have Taught Me To Zip It

With my first child, we didn’t know the sex until birth.  I was asked what we had chosen for names by many people, and I told them.

At the time, I was very young and unaware that people could be so opinionated about our name choices.  Some people were downright rude, and it upset me.

I told myself that if we ever had any other children, we should keep the names to ourselves.

I Have A New Perspective

This time, not only do I not want to discuss names with other people, but I want to meet my baby before assigning a name to him or her.

I want to spend some time with them and carefully choose the name before anything is finalized.  Of course, the baby will have a name by the time we are discharged.  I just want the naming of my child to be on my terms.

photo credit: Emery Co Photo

Whether you are 4 weeks or 9 months pregnant, the summer heat can affect you when you least expect it.  Just this weekend, I was at a “Community Day” in my hometown and it was a beautiful, sunny 89 degrees at high-noon.  There was no humidity, so it was a dry heat.

Suddenly, it felt unusually hard to walk across the field, and I started getting the cold sweats that signal the early signs of heat exhaustion.  I felt faint, and had to sit down immediately.  After about 15 minutes of sitting in the shade, drinking water, and finishing a snow-cone, I was feeling better.

Thank goodness I listened to my body and re-hydrated and rested.  Being 19 weeks pregnant, I didn’t want to take any chances.

These Tips Have Helped Me

The Weatherman is your Friend

Check the weather forecast and look at the humidity level for the day.  Plan your day around how humid it’s supposed to be.  If it is supposed to be very humid, try to minimize your activity level.  If you do have a busy day planned, try to be your most active early in the day when the heat and humidity are at their low point.  Keep ice cold water with you at all times because staying hydrated is super important.

Drink Water

Dry heat can also be rough on pregnant women, so if you happen to be out enjoying the low humidity be aware that you may still feel the effects of the weather.   Be conscience of the fact that you may feel great one moment, and suddenly you may feel very fatigued or faint.   Make sure you sit down right away, rest, and again, STAY HYDRATED!!

We Love AC

If at all possible, stay in the air conditioning!  I realize that there are many things that are fun to do in the summer that don’t involve being inside, but sometimes it’s just too darn hot outside!  If it isn’t possible for you to be in the air conditioning, there are great fans out there now that really can have a nice, cooling effect.

Pay Attention To How You Feel

Lastly, but most importantly, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! Don’t ignore any strange feelings of faint or fatigue.  People will understand if you have to sit and rest, or go inside into the a/c for a bit.  If you normally get symptoms of heat stroke or heat exhaustion without being pregnant, then it’s possible you may have an increased chance of experiencing the same symptoms while being pregnant.

photo credit: Joelshine v2

With my first child, we decided to wait until she was born to find out what she was.  It wasn’t necessarily hard, and it made that moment just as she was born so exciting.  Or so I thought.

Delivery Room Confusion

It wasn’t until the doctor said “It’s a boy, it’s a girl, no- wait it’s a boy, oh, ok it’s a girl for sure.”  All I could think is “what is it and how many are there?”

That little mix-up was due to the umbilical hernia my daughter had and it really did look as though she could have been a boy.  She was definitely a girl, and a beautiful one at that.  Although, she did look a bit annoyed at me for the abrupt exit from her warm home of 40 weeks and two days.

Hurry to Name Her!

Once the doctors examined her and determined that she’d need to go to the NICU for observation due to the hernia (which was pretty big), and because of some breathing issues, I was asked to tell them her name.

I felt pressured to spit out one of the names we’d been toying with because I didn’t know better.  I hadn’t even gotten to hold my daughter and get a good look at her before naming her.  Thank goodness the name was just right for her!

Different Child, Different Mindset

This time, we are finding out the sex of the baby.  One of the reasons was that I simply cannot stand waiting until the day of delivery to find out what the baby is.  I am 11 years older now with this pregnancy, and I have become impatient with age.

I cannot stand calling my unborn child “it” any longer.  It feels strange to say “it’s moving” or “it’s growing” as if he or she not human.  The best reason in my book to find out is: SHOPPING!  I can actually put gender specific clothing on my child in the hospital!  My family can purchase cute clothing that isn’t yellow, green, or white.

We can also have a finished nursery for the little boy or girl when he or she comes home from the hospital without settling on very neutral decor.

Other Reasons

There are some other things that have made my decision to find out the sex easier.  With my first pregnancy, everyone decided on “predicting” what I was having based on how I carried.  Everyone was an expert, or had never been wrong on predicting the sex of all of their friends babies.

Honestly, all of the predictions were just annoying.   Also, I’d like to be able to focus on choosing boy names or girl names, not both at the same time.

Ultimately, I just want to enjoy my pregnancy, and for me finding out the sex will be even more exciting than not finding out!

It is true that hindsight is 20/20.

Had I known that waiting “just a few more years” to have another child would have resulted in a long stretch of infertility, I would have just bitten the bullet and had more children much closer to my daughter’s age.  Even just one more would have made a difference, so I thought.

It turns out that now that my daughter will be almost 11 years old when her new brother or sister is born, the large age difference may not be the horrible thing that I have been conditioned to think it was.

Big Sister Excitement

When I told my daughter that she was going to be a big sister in December, she was overjoyed.  She immediately started to make plans for what she would make the baby, how she would help with everything except diaper changing, and how awesome it is going to be a big sister.  She is still very excited, and once we find out what we are having she’ll start to help pick out the clothing and room decor. (more…)