I bought a pair of 'convertable' pants (you can button them up to be capris) for this transitional weather and they're really fantastic - from Kohls! Kohls has some cute things. I've work them buttoned up and unbuttoned when it's been cooler - this order of clothes I just got from Kohls and Destination are my first go at any maternity clothes, mostly pants because my shirts still work.

http://www.kohls.com/product/prd-1296286/oh-baby-by-motherhood-secret-fit-belly-convertible-pants-maternity.jsp

they're really comfortable and look great and held their shape throughout the day.

Anonymous wrote:I didn't get caught, but I felt terrible after I snooped because I discovered I made so much less than the males in the office. I was really angry for a long time. Still at the job, though. Sigh.

Same here - it isn't secret here (fed agency), but knowing how much less I make than people who've never been to college but are male? While I have a masters degree and direct experience to what this job requires? Yeah, it makes me real motivated to work harder.

knowing is a double edged sword. a very sharp one.

Ugh I am not a chanter. On Tuesday's we do "om" but it isn't regular - I can't even remember if we did it last week. I don't enjoy it, but I try to think that my baby can feel the vibration of the "om" and soon, I can feel it react. Hopefully!

Saturday at tranquil space you do one om at the end.

Did a wednesday night class at TS and there was more chanting. Not my style.

I would say you are describing very much what the Yoga District class is - I take Tuesdays and I really, really enjoy it. I posted here about which classes people recommend, and this was one of them (people said Flow was more difficult since I'd never taken Yoga before).

Brittney takes a pulse of the group and when it seems like people are dragging, she definitely makes it a more relaxing class. When people are generally feeling good, it's harder. There have been times when I've been sore (in a good way!) after the class. So it definitely depends on how she senses the class is feeling.

It has also gotten more busy - Tuesdays are pre AND post natal, so sometimes there are children. I can't complain because it's advertised as such, but it is a little difficult to concentrate during relaxation times when there's crying. But the flip side, I have to work to block it out which is part of the benefits of the class (if you're hoping to use some of it to prepare for natural birth...right??). So I try to use it as a positive as best I can, and I know it's a great thing to have an evening post-natal since most seem to be during the day so if you work, this class is helpful.

There are harder movements like lizards, squats, etc that I don't know how very pregnant women do! Pikes, Dolphins, and not sure what else because I don't know much about yoga.

We do the intro (name, weeks, if you know if you're having a boy/girl), what issues you are having. Brittney is VERY open, sweet, and gentle. I like her class better than Tranquil Space (but I also enjoy that class, too, just in a different way). I've never done thursday's prenatal because it's at a bad time for me.

hope that helps!

My protocol was conservative because we were a MFI case, but I responded well...and still had none to freeze.

Having ones to freeze isn't that common.

Day 5 options are great - we transferred 2 day-5s and I'm 16W and change pregnant.

Good luck, OP - keep us updated!

I have a screen name because I don't think anonymous posts create any sort of community. And people here have strong feelings about stuff that frankly isn't any of their business (working mothers, medicated births, circumcision) in the grand scheme of things. Heck, people are nasty to one another - hello, mommy wars.

I do appreciate your concern, but I did speak with my care provider about this. I also read what you posted.

I do consume caffeine. (I avoid deli meat because I don't eat meat...which I'm sure isn't good to my baby according to some study...and I never drank well before becoming pregnant - I'd rather consume those calories another way!)

I read a lot of research about it before I bought it and I just read what you posted. Yes, I told my OB at my last appointment.

In an ideal world, being pregnant wouldn't stress me out (though, I'm not as stressed now, which is why I use it much less often). I don't treat it like a toy, nor am I unaware of the risks. I don't think people here would care about the risks associated with my not sleeping, my elevated blood pressure from my stress, etc. funny how that works (heck, there's even a thread about 'things I'm against' on the general board, and IVF is one those - IVF comes with increased risks, too - I guess I shouldn't have done that?). My OB said to limit my use (which I do) and now that I'm not as 'fragile' emotionally as I was, I definitely don't rely on it.

I understand where OP is coming from, and she didn't ask to be lectured.

I 've thought about it, and I think if you don't know that there are still risks regardless, then I don't know what to tell ya.

I use mine a couple of times a week and will until I can feel movement because it keeps me from going bat shit.

Any intelligent woman knows there are still risks that a Doppler can't identify, which is why there are doctor's visits. I think women who use it every day for an hour are not doing themselves any favors, for 3 minutes a couple times a week? The fumes from my metro commute are far worse.

Why not just have an appointment at both and see which you're more comfortable with?

I had success with GW and loved my nurse and Dr F. But I also know someone who had success at Columbia and we were similar cases. Everyone is different and you're likely to trust your gut reaction to the appointment. So if you have the time to go with that, why not?

strangers are funny - I'd NEVER ask someone if they were pregnant! Too many mistakes can happen!!! lol
(like in 2 weeks notice...."congrats on the baby!" "what baby? WHAT BABY?!")

OP, I was thinking about you last night while I was using mine - it won't be long now before you hear the HB then you'll hear it move while you're trying to track it. It's pretty cool!

Like I said, when I was 15W I could find it right away. Not much longer for you to be that far along!

ok, why don't you list what date/time/locale works best?

I can do whenever (I have no kids, and my MIL will be in town so trust me, I can WILL get away!) and where ever.

Sunday brunch can work for me - we can try Le Diplomat? There's a bunch of stuff on 14th st, I don't know what people prefer to eat. I'm very flexible because I don't have any other responsibilities right now and like to eat

LPQ works, too - but I don't know of they can fit people other than their community table?

Hey Plum....what about contract law jobs with a staffing agency or something? As a fed, I do not recommend making the jump to fed these days. Your 'family friendliness' will vary by supervisor and there are no guarantees. I am a fed, can't telecommute and I can't even shift my schedule to work 8-430. It sucks.

Can you negotiate where you are? What about an in house for an org or association you have a personal attachment to (would mean a pay cut)?

Definitely not the Hill. There is a reason most there are 24. I worked there at 25 and was old

I just went to le diplomat today (omg so good) and they aren't offering lunch on that Monday. Brunch was fabulous there. I tasted my hubbies virgin Mary and it was delicious.

So....any other suggestions? Or other dates that work for people?

to me, it's always shocking what people say about others reproductive behavior when it doesn't fit their own definition of normal.

There's a Pregnant Chicken section about what to say to people when they ask, "was it an accident". One response was "yes, I just tripped and fell on a dick"