Pumpkin here again, I too notice fewer people posting here than when I was pregnant with my first. I'm also posting less than I did that time, because (so far) I feel better and I have a kid so I have less time to post. But, for whatever reason, the element that seems to be missing are the non-pregnant current moms who would come on and mock first timers on the boards for asking first time mom questions. I see relatively fewer dismissive responses, etc; maybe people are getting all of their aggression out on the other boards?

I remember when I was pregnant with my first, you'd ask a question and then almost get into the fetal position, waiting for moms to smack you down. But this time around, even the questions surrounding midwives and natural birth, c-sections, breast vs. bottle, etc, seem to generate mostly very respectful dialogue. Obviously, there are moments, but it does seem to be relatively more peaceful here compared to my last time around. People aren't holding back their opinions, necessarily, but I just see less devolution into name-calling, etc.

Note I said "relatively less."

Anonymous wrote:WHen I was expecting last time, I didn't know about DCUM. I looked at wte's boards but there are some young chicks on that site.
"my boyfriend broke up with me"
"I am 19 and haven't told my daddy".
Now, I know there are some non-ama women on here but I suspect they have WAY more maternity than the WTE board.

I"m seriously thinking about starting a Sept. 2013 expecting thread b/c I"m a little jealous of that Oct. 2013 thread. There. I said it. Been thinking it for awhile.

DO IT! Or join us, if you'd like (not that I'm the gatekeeper or anything) but there are definitely some women who are expecting in early Oct on there. I'm due at the very end of October, so I'd be interested in reading some November moms, (when they get their BFPs) post, too. I was also on the WTE boards (which btw, that book itself is so bad to me) but yeah, I seriously had to get off the WTE boards with my first because the posts were so depressing. Hugely immature posts about major fights that just made my stomach twist in knots for the kids brought into that equation (and I don't mean that in the snarky "I feel sorry for your kids!" DCUM manner).

I actually got the idea for doing a thread for Oct moms from a former "bedrest moms" thread that was updated frequently a year or so ago. I wasn't pregnant at the time but I think I actually posted on it once to say how nice I thought it was for the moms to give one another that support system.

Have a great pregnancy!

- Pumpkin Oct '13

Let's see what he says:

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/293720.page

jindc wrote:There should definitely be a "due date' section somewhere on DCUM - I'm on the Oct thread and it's been lovely to see how the other women are getting on and I hope that as we get closer, we can have a meet up or have play dates etc when kids are born. I'm not sure if that's too "social networky", and perhaps the anonymous nature of DCUM prevents it, but I think it would encourage community a bit more of expectant parents. Just a thought.

Start a Sept due dates thread - you'll find others!

I agree. I wonder if this has ever been suggested to Jeff.

I think people are referring to the thread below. There are no official "due date month" threads on DCUM that I'm aware of.

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/290021.page

There should definitely be a "due date' section somewhere on DCUM - I'm on the Oct thread and it's been lovely to see how the other women are getting on and I hope that as we get closer, we can have a meet up or have play dates etc when kids are born. I'm not sure if that's too "social networky", and perhaps the anonymous nature of DCUM prevents it, but I think it would encourage community a bit more of expectant parents. Just a thought.

Start a Sept due dates thread - you'll find others!

I looked at the forum index and don't see a thread by due date month anywhere. I am a newbie on this site.
where are those threads?

Hmm, it doesn't seem slower to me than during my 2011 pregnancy. But then, ever since I had my daughter and started frequenting the General Parenting forum, this one's seemed way slow in comparison! That one is hopping.

13:30: you should totally start a Sept. 2013 thread! I'm one of the frequent fliers on the Oct. 2013, and it's great fun. I bet you'd get a lot of takers. :^)

Thanks, PP. There is a huge gap between 19 and pregnant and AMA! I'm 31 and this is my second. But I completely agree, I can't stand the babycenter-type sites.

I don't post as much on this board because it's my second. I don't freak out about eating soft cheese, or worry about every BH contraction, etc. like I did with my first. It does seem a bit slower than with my first.

WHen I was expecting last time, I didn't know about DCUM. I looked at wte's boards but there are some young chicks on that site.
"my boyfriend broke up with me"
"I am 19 and haven't told my daddy".
Now, I know there are some non-ama women on here but I suspect they have WAY more maternity than the WTE board.

I"m seriously thinking about starting a Sept. 2013 expecting thread b/c I"m a little jealous of that Oct. 2013 thread. There. I said it. Been thinking it for awhile.

I guess there goes the theory of a derecho baby boom.

The frequency of deliveries does vary across months - there aren't an equal amount of deliveries throughout the whole year, so it could be that this is a slower time than others.

Or just less interest? This board seems as though it's significantly slower than when I was pregnant the first time in 2011. I can't figure out if it's because not as many women are pregnant at the moment (seems unlikely) or something else. Has anyone else noticed the slow down or is it just me?