I would definitely invest in some training if your puppy isn't already trained. We adopted a 40lb puggle right before I got pregnant and he's a sweet dog, but can very annoying since he isn't properly trained. I HATE walking him w/ the baby b/c he's all over the place. My DH has tried training him, but he's a very stubborn dog and will go right back to his old routine in a day or two.

Are there any dog parks around you? I would ask the dog walker to come in the morning when you're tired and trying to get the baby together. If there's a nearby dog park, then you can walk the baby and dog to the park midday for a long bout of exercise. That and a Kong/doggie puzzles should keep him happy until the evening, when you can take him and the baby for at quick stroll/pee break around the block before bed. You might even plan a stroll around your baby's early evening breakdown - the "witching hour" - since sometimes a change in scenery or noise helps calm the baby, and the sounds outside will help you keep your sanity since you won't hear the baby as much.

I agree w/ others that you should have the walker come more frequently when the baby first arrives, then taper down as you recover. Doggie day care once or twice a week will be very helpful, as well.

My water broke at 2am and I got to the hospital at 6:30am. I was only 2cm upon arrival. I labored w/out meds for the next 12 hours, but couldn't get beyond 3cm. They put me on Pitocin and things started getting REALLY painful. As I knew my DD wouldn't be arriving anytime soon, I asked for the epi since I knew I needed sleep and I wouldn't be able to sleep through the pit contractions.

My epi only worked 100% on one side; the other side was about 40-60%. The epi "died" several times over the 24 hours before my DD arrived, so I had to have it bumped w/ IV drugs at least 3xs. The last time it died was about 1-2 hours before she was born so I felt ALL of the transition, birth, and sewing up. Not exactly pain-free, but not so bad once DD arrived and my body flooded itself w/ happy hormones!

I think I'll do it the same way this time around. I just hope the epi works 100% the entire time.

I loved our Peanut sling until my DD was about 3 months. After that, I used the Moby or Baby Bjorn.

I used ibuprofen for the first two weeks, then no pain meds. I had a 2nd degree tear. I bled heavily for the first four weeks, then lightly for about another month.

Your LO is doing exactly what she should be doing. Just keep getting her tummy time and interacting w/ her and she'll start doing more in the next few weeks. My DD started smiling around 7 weeks, but was pretty much doing what yours is doing until that point.

41 and pregnant w/ second baby. Will give birth at 42. Had first baby at 40.

I bought everything on eBay. I scoured it for deals and groups/sets of clothes. That and I bought four maxi dresses, all of which have served me well!

Personally, I wouldn't think twice about it, nor would I handle that friend w/ kid gloves. My DH doesn't want our babies to have the same name as any of our friends, but doesn't mind if the baby has the same name as him. /eyeroll/

We did check w/ one friend about a name for our son as they had a stillborn son w/ that name. If it's a case like that, then, yes, I think you should check w/ your friends b/c you wouldn't want to cause them any pain. If it's just a "normal" case, then I wouldn't bother. I think anyone who gets offended by someone else naming their kid the same name as yours is being a wee bit silly.

I'm switching from their 19th St. office for two reasons - the lack of response for tests (like you mentioned) and I DO NOT want to deliver at Sibley again. My Sibley delivery was horrible and they literally forgot about me several times. Not great care during the labor/delivery and their pediatricians fought DH and I at every turn once she arrived.

I'm an AMA mom, so I've had a number of tests which I've had to hound them on all the results. I called for two weeks, got no response, and then they called to tell me they'd lost my blood and I had to do the test again. ARGH!!

The horrible thing is that I LOVE my doctor - Shawn Davis is wonderful! I also met w/ Drs. Ozmun (great), Hill (great), Radecki (wonderful), McAnders (great), and Johnson (great). I'll miss them and their terffic care, but the admin staff I won't miss. I'll miss how close their office is - literally across the street. Oh, well...

Forgot one great piece of advice I got from my SIL: Sleep when baby sleeps until noon and then do any chores or activities. That way you might cobble together roughly 5-7 hours of sleep a day.

Also, don't be afraid to bedshare. Do your research and do it safely, but don't think it can't be done. My DD went through a cluster-feeding two months and if I hadn't bed-shared using a side latch, then I would've dropped dead from exhaustion.

If you can afford a doula, mother's helper or sitter, then do it b/c it will help so much. Even if all you do is nap, it'll be worth it.

I agree w/ other posters that DH should help w/ feedings while you sleep. Lack of sleep can mess w/ your milk and reduce it, so pumping just once or twice a day so DH has a bottle will be a lifesaver. www.kellymom.com has a lot of great BFing info.

Have a ton of burp clothes everywhere w/in reach b/c baby will spit up all over the place - you, the couch, the floor, the dog, etc.

Set up mini-BFing stations around the house and stock them w/ water, snacks, reading materials, burp cloths, diapers...anything you think you might need during feedings. This is so you're not stuck starving and staring at a wall while baby suckles for 30 minutes.