One more thing (Petunia again). I was reading about what to pack, and saw a recommendation to bring two bags - one for labor and one for after delivery. I like this idea - anyone doing this? I plan to bring a smaller labor bag into the hospital and leave my bigger post delivery bag in the car for my husband to get once we are settled in our room.

Petunia here. Speaking of packing bags, my doctor recommended bringing Lanolin nipple creme to the hospital. Made sense to me. It may end up being too early in the nursing process to have pain, but it is a good idea to have relief just in case.

Hope everyone is doing well!

I'm 37.5 weeks and I've at least made my packing list, but haven't actually gotten any of it in a bag yet. I'm going to try to labor at home for a good long while, so I figure I can probably pack then if I have to. otherwise, i'm lucky enough to have lots of local family who could come get whatever I might decide I need. I've got a baby that does yoga all day one day and then chills out for a day. it's nerve wracking for sure, but she always manages to perk up right when i'm about to call the doctor! i'm guessing it has to do with the sugar and coffee I ingest trying to get her moving, as well as those good stress hormones. i'm getting tired easily and getting tired of people telling me I look like i'll go early. I spent the first 27 weeks so anxious about losing her and i'm just sure the universe will repay me by letting me go long!!

Anonymous wrote:It's funny the different between the first and second. With the first I had the nursery set up, all the gear ready, clothes washed, hospital bag packed, etc. at this point (a month to go) and still felt terrified. This time, I haven't done any of that. We recently moved houses so the nursery is a disaster -- needs to be painted, furniture still in boxes, etc. Haven't even thought about a hospital bag, either. But, I don't feel nervous. I know the baby will be in the pack and play in our room at first so I'm not that concerned about the nursery. And as for everything else, well, having been through it before it's just not that stressful...

As a FTM, I LOVE your last sentence.

This is Petunia, btw.

It's funny the different between the first and second. With the first I had the nursery set up, all the gear ready, clothes washed, hospital bag packed, etc. at this point (a month to go) and still felt terrified. This time, I haven't done any of that. We recently moved houses so the nursery is a disaster -- needs to be painted, furniture still in boxes, etc. Haven't even thought about a hospital bag, either. But, I don't feel nervous. I know the baby will be in the pack and play in our room at first so I'm not that concerned about the nursery. And as for everything else, well, having been through it before it's just not that stressful...

Elle here. Man the movement thing is a puzzle, but that's good to know that I'm not the only one who frets every now and then.

The midwife I saw today said that if you're worried, call. 99% of the time, it's nothing and everything's fine, but for that 1% of the time, it's worth checking. I think it's worth trusting your intuition about things too. If something feels wrong, call. Don't wait and sit around and worry. Not worth it as you're getting excited for your baby!

Anonymous wrote:Anyone having movement issues? Mine is very active one day, not so much the next. Have had numerous NSTs and BPPS - passed all. There are really no other tests they can do. But it still worries me when I wake up in the night and wonder when the last time was that I felt movement. Or when I wake up in the morning and it takes a lot for the baby to get moving.

Petunia responding here - I am 36 weeks and have noticed an increase in activity, especially during the day over the past 2 weeks or so. Prior to that, the baby was really active at night, with a kick here and there during the day, or if I was lying down. Sometimes when I realized I had not felt a kick in a long while I would lie down to feel kicks. On the day of my baby shower, I realized I had not felt a kick all day, but I was constantly up and walking around (rocking him to sleep). Once I sat down that night, he was kicking away. I think it is perfectly normal to worry about feeling movement, and perfectly normal for the activity levels to wax and wane at times - sometimes it is do to your activity level (you move a lot, the baby is soothed and snoozes most of the day). I read babies later in the 3rd trimester sleep about 90% of the time.

Anyone having movement issues? Mine is very active one day, not so much the next. Have had numerous NSTs and BPPS - passed all. There are really no other tests they can do. But it still worries me when I wake up in the night and wonder when the last time was that I felt movement. Or when I wake up in the morning and it takes a lot for the baby to get moving.

Anonymous wrote:Petunia here - still haven't packed my bags. I WILL do it this week...I think...

I wonder if anyone ever feels completely ready. I am ready to meet this baby, for sure. But, I don't feel totally ready, even though I think we have everything we need. Or, maybe I am just having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that we will have a baby, our own baby, living in our house in less than a month. But, I am sure in a few months I will not be able to imagine life without that baby in my life

If it makes you feel better, nobody is *really* ever ready for that first baby. You might be prepared, have all the baby stuff, have your bag packed, and think you're as ready as you can be, but there's no way possible to prepare yourself for the life shift that comes with having that child until the baby is actually here.

Petunia here - still haven't packed my bags. I WILL do it this week...I think...

I wonder if anyone ever feels completely ready. I am ready to meet this baby, for sure. But, I don't feel totally ready, even though I think we have everything we need. Or, maybe I am just having a hard time wrapping my brain around the fact that we will have a baby, our own baby, living in our house in less than a month. But, I am sure in a few months I will not be able to imagine life without that baby in my life

Elle here... so wow. One of the women in my childbirth class, who was due a week later than me, just had her baby!

And... I haven't packed my hospital bag still.

Do you feel ready?

Pro tip: stripey dresses are great for entertaining strangers. You can really see the belly undulations with a stripey dress.

Petunia again. Elle - your baby will be here in no time! So exciting! The heartburn is pretty miserable, but so is feeling so worn out. This past week I have been feeling 1st trimester tired and super unmotivated. I did manage to wash baby clothes and blankets, etc. Our nursery still needs some work too! I definitely thought it would be all ready to go by now. It will get done when it gets done

I feel like my baby's movements have gotten stronger and more frequent during the day. But, I had a day when I felt no movement until night time, which freaked me out good. The doctors really haven't told me to look out for anything. I just got information on contractions and going into labor. Seems like there will be a lot of time between the first contractions and leaving for the hospital - perhaps enough time to finish packing a hospital bag, if need be

Btw, how crazy is it to see your stomach moving like crazy when the baby is moving? I knew I would see some movement, I just didn't realize how pronounced the movements would be!

Elle here! Hi! I'm just over 3 weeks away! Eek! I have also not packed my hospital bag, so I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one. I just washed baby clothes (mostly hand-me-downs) and swaddles and stuff, and put it all away in the "nursery" (which is also pretty undecorated and not even close to ready, but whatever.)

I feel sooo lucky I don't have heartburn, or swelling or anything, but I'm definitely starting to feel uncomfortable. And just... worn out much more easily. I plan to work up until my due date, but man that is looking harder and harder to do because I come home afterward, and I'm just wiped out. Also been waking up between 3 and 5 AM and sometimes unable to go back to sleep. Maybe this is when I should be decorating the nursery! Hah.

I'm also getting all hyper-vigilant about the baby's movement, because it's gotten less predictable. Baby is still really active, but less on the same schedule as before, and of course at 37 weeks with less room, the movement is different.

What have your doctors told you about what to look for and what to be concerned about at this point? I'm honestly so glad we have appointments every week at this point, just for the reassurance it brings.

Petunia here. Just checking in to see how everyone is doing. I had a good appointment this week - baby is definitely head down. Have my strep b test this coming week and the first cervical check. Otherwise, I am just experiencing the same ol' heartburn, very frequent urination and general discomfort fro the size of my belly (especially while trying to sleep).

I think it is time to finalize my hospital bag this week. Less than 4 weeks until my due date. How close are you all to your due date? I'm excited, but also fairly nervous about labor and delivery. How are you all feeling?