I asked about part time and have basically been told no. I think many managers don't want to give up a full time slot. We aren't allowed to telework either. Or do AWS. Sooooo I would try to talk to your boss about what your options are - can you change your AWS day while pregnant? Can you temporarily do a pt schedule when you return to try it out.

Opm says its an option, but my my agency has no pt employees (and I'm not trying to go half time, I am trying to do 30-35hrs). Also, tread lightly because 'i can do all my tasks in 25 hours might mean 'this person needs more work to fill a 40hr week'. Maybe also talk to HR and see if anyone else in your agency/dept does this to gauge how pt friendly your office is.

Good luck.

Mine! For me though it the opposite hip (if i am on my right side, after a while my left hurts). Not sure you are going thru the same thing.

I just end up in my back. Body pillow made it too difficult to roll over. And it was warm. I find a regular pillow next to me that I can "hug" helps my overall alignment.

In my yoga class, a few people have said that Hip openers before bed have helped with the pain. It can also be displaced lower back pain (according to yoga instructor) so stretching might help!

Good luck!

It would bother me if someone called my baby a "beanpole" or "stick figure" It just so happened that the posts I had been seeing were all about a couple of "chubby babies". In general, I only noticed this because of some FB posts, and the fact that the only thing I know about my SIL's child is that he's "huge". The only identifier I have is that, which to me is a little odd. It also just so happens that an overwhelming majority of people I know with babies have girls.
I think girls are more pressured by society in terms of body image, which is why I had to do some thinking on the issue.

However, we are having a boy. There just aren't as many societal pressures out there. My husband was incredibly skinny growing up, so I do know there are issues with that as well. As a failure to thrive baby, he was always told how skinny he was and that his mom must not be feeding him enough. So I know it exists on both sides, since every story about his childhood from his mom involves that!

thanks, PP....that wasn't really my question/concern. I actually think you can't assume how someone will take what you say.

but hey, if it's normal and everyone does it, that's really all I was seeking.

I'm relaxed. Just trying to understand it. Sorry!

Anonymous wrote:This is going to sound condescending -- when you are pregnant vs. when you have a baby, you don't realize the reality of it There are a lot of things you say you won't do or you will do. Reality will be very different.

Of course, but calling a baby "chubby" isn't something I have been around. I don't comment on people's weight because I know I don't like it (thanks, mom!)....so it might be different. It might not be. There are things I say I won't do like "use my stroller as a shopping cart at the farmers market" which isn't really serious!

But really, how do you know when your child picks up on the "chubby" stuff? when s/he can talk? This isn't sarcasm - If I call my baby chubby, and he can eventually talk and repeat it and calls another kid chubby, is that ok?

I have put a lot of thought into the overall issue of body image in case we had a girl, but I never realized how much other people do it to a kid that isn't theirs and whatnot.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely understand being happy to see a baby eating a lot, beautiful fat rolls, etc. I guess it's the outward calling of the names that makes it sort of sting. In the era of social networking, it could also be that I notice it way more and think "man, if your kid sees this in a few years...."

but hey, now I know it's totally normal! I thought it was something to avoid just because it might be a bad habit to get in to

I know it's not intentional, I just think of all the things to comment about a beautiful, healthy baby....a nickname being 'chunky monkey' just seems....unnecessary. Cutie Patootie? Smiley face? I don't know. My SIL's kid is like 30lbs and not 6 months old, and ALL I hear about is how big he is. My husband was a "failure to thrive" baby, too, so maybe it's just their family really care about this stuff?
I know it could easily be me projecting, I just really hope I don't fall in to the trap of calling my baby chubby (because how do I really know when they grasp that concept of being called chubby?). I do know they don't understand you that early.

BUT, if it's normal for people to call their kids this, I'm glad I know now. I really never thought about it until I became more pregnant and noticed how many do it.

Does anyone else find it not ok when people call their baby girls "chunky monkey" or "chubby thighs"? I haven't had my baby yet, but it just seems...unnecessary.

Maybe I'm overly sensitive because of my own weight issues, but I just think calling your 6 month old daughter chunky monkey isn't necessary. Is this normal for parents to do and people are ok with it?

I worried about having a daughter and passing my weight issues on to her, but even with a boy, there are issues regarding body image...

maybe this is a vent more than anything, but is this really ok to those who are parents?

I have read the threads and believe its because they haven't yet been Feds. There's incredibly poor morale. Those who can leave, are. If you don't think there is a brain drain, you aren't looking around.
Doesn't matter if I annoy you, and. You don't have to agree. And I am not important, I just know I don't want to be stuck on a sinking ship!

(and technically I am irreplaceable because there is a severe hiring freeze)

Anonymous wrote:Luckily, they're coming during corn on the cob season. Hot dogs and corn on the cob should cover you for about every 3rd or 4th night. (You can alternate between potato salad, cole slaw, and tossed salad for the third dish on that menu.)

Only if I can come over! This is like one of my all time favorite meals


But what about a taco bar (make meat in a crock pot, skinnytaste has good filling recipes)? Some mentioned it and its a great idea. Grilled chicken breasts marinaded all day in Italian dressing, add some summer squash to the grill (or make kabobs).

Housekeeping is a great idea. So is massage. And healthy meal delivery is also a great thing. All of these will help her relax and be a treat for her (whereas I think clothes are going to be bought anyway so I prefer those treats).

How thoughtful of you! I wish my MIL would be so thoughtful, but then I'd probably have to interact with her

Op, I looooved to cook before pregnancy. I now can't stand dealing with meal planning - thinking that far in advance isn't working and I hate it because I really do enjoy cooking. My husband only knows how to scramble eggs.

I do cook sometimes and am happy it's summer because produce is amazing. Burger night (salmon for him, grilled chicken for me) with boiled corn on the cob, some side salad. Tomato, basil, mozzarella salad. Gazpacho is often in my fridge and I add avocado to it before eating. All are very easy to make. I make tuna salad (I limit it to once a week) and you could easily do it with chicken I am trying to limit carbs and balancing that by foregoing counting fat to a degree. Sweet green is a good to go place, but I personally try to avoid prepared food right now. One thing you could get is a supermarket roasted chicken - just reheat it in the oven to make sure its cooked through. The leftovers are good.

Snacks on hand at all times for me are greek yogurt, kind bars, small cottage cheese containers, and organic string cheese. I try to have a smoothie every morning with a smoothie of almond milk, frozen banana chunks, Greek yogurt, and a fruit (sometimes ill add chocolate syrup and peanut butter).

If I can do those things, anyone can! Set small cooking goals, make extra of everything, and keep snacks on hand that will keep crazy hunger at bay.

Good luck, you aren't alone. Think of this as a good time to try to learn some cooking skills you can keep up when hu have a kid if you so desire.

Oh, they have the belly "hole" - it's more like a series of mats (best way to describe it) that take the pressure off your belly - basically holes for your boobs and tummy. And they have one level for 30+ weeks, another for less than 30 weeks.

I wouldn't do a side one - not relaxing. I picked this specifically because they had tummy down massages. It was really great. Then, when you're on your back, she propped up the table so you weren't flat.

there was a downside to the massage - it eventually ended, and a day later I realized that 90 minutes isn't enough for my F'd up back/shoulders!

yes, Eastern Market