friendly advice?

 

"We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful; it's that women are strong." -Laura Stavoe Harm

My Midwives (and great friends): Dzhan and Laurie. It's been pretty fun to be pregnant at the same time as Dzhan (her first!). We are due within a week or so of each other.  Hopefully we can time it just right so that Laurie has a nice long nap in between our births.

*I am gathering a play list of songs for labor and birth. I find myself drawn more to classical music over synthesizers and such. Must be the ballerina in me. I already have Debussy, Pachabel, Tchaikovsky, and a bit of Yo-Yo Ma. Other Suggestions?

*Trying to make extra meals and freeze them for easy dinners after baby comes.  Any good recipes?

*Considering one of these to wear after the baby. Feedback?

*Still mulling over names. We have a few favorites but nothing concrete.  Anybody have any input to offer?  (our last name is 3 syllables and starts with the letter P. We need a name that has only one or two syllables.)

*Downloaded this app and am intrigued by this one too.  Any others that I need?

*I loved my beco backpack but it didn't come with a newborn insert.  I made the sling, but I am also curious about the moby wrap. Can anyone with experience tell me if it is too hot to wear during the summer?

Okay, that's it for now.  Thanks guys.

Comments

[Jill]

Wow. You already sound so prepped for this birth and after, what I have to say may not be of any help. But here it is, to be or to help.
1- Sissel. Her "Into Paradise" CD has some classical pieces.
2 - SavingDinner.com, their "20 for the Freezer, vol.1". The tuscan bean and turkey skillet, bean and beef burrito and the lemon chicken scallopini = YUM.
3 - I bought a back support from Wal-Mart (around $15 bucks, no straps, just the belly stuff) and used it the first few days after our youngest was born. It allowed me to stand up and get to the john without feeling faint (kept all those sloshing organs in place). I was cautioned not to wear it too many days so my abs wouldn't lax into inactivity and my back would pay. I don't know if that would have happened or not. I wore it for one week and loved it.
4 - The first name that comes to mind is Devon, purely for the county in England.
5 - I don't know much about apps yet. Sorry!
6 - I love my pouch/sling for quick trips when I have a child who just needs to be held (grocery store, library) and I'm going to be in and out of wherever fairly quick. I haven't tried a moby wrap, but I made my own wrap and I LOVELOVELOVE it. I wear it when we're on a walk, hiking, museums or anywhere for more than 10 minutes. I made mine out of cotton gauze (5.5 yards, split it lengthwise down the middle and you have two wraps)and haven't found it too hot in the summer. But, like I said, I have no idea about the actual moby brand moby wraps.

Good luck! And thanks for letting me blab. ;)

[Sarah]

*Bellybandit-hmmm...not sure it's worth the money, I used after both my children's births severl tube tops I had from back in the day. (for under sarongs while in a sorority function!) They worked wonders, are 100%Cotton, easy to wash for my excess milk production and baby spit up, and come in a variety of colors.
*I found the contraction master while at the end of my pregnancy with baby boy#2 and loved it, I was then able to focus on relaxing rather than timing and just pressed the spacebar or had hubby do it. I used it a lot while sitting on a exercise ball and just breathing through tough contractions.
*names...there are so many beautiful boy names: lliam, james, conner, and of course my two favorites ethan and isaac!
*I used the moby with both boys and it was better for me with my first born in Nov due to the warmth of it and since he was only 7lbs at birth. My second was 10lbs at birth and I had a bit more trouble getting him to snuggle comfortably in the Moby after about three months than I utilized the ergo.
HTH
Sarah :)

[Heather]

That quote is my ALL TIME favorite. It is inspiring and very true.

I loved my wrap and I live in a hot climate. I couldn't use it all the time and relied on a pouch and ring sling. I had a Bali Breeze and it was not woven so cooler.

I have an Eamon and Benton, however those are two syllable. I like mostly 2 syllable names, but Jack is a strong good one syllable name (it is my father's). Ronan was a favorite while pregnant.

My husband likes egg bake, so I made a few of those during the last days of my pregnancy. I am sure your local friends will inundate you with food :)

[Tishelle]

The main thing that I can advise on is the Moby. I LOVED it! I had Payton in late june and wore it all summer and it was just fine. In fact, I nursed in it, cooked dinner in it, walked in it...I'm sure I would have showered in it if possible:) I bet you could make super easy too if you feel like it...Names...I am very into Liam, Rohen, Cohen and such. Very boyish, but easy too. I am so excited for your new littl eboy:) Are you coming over for Erin's shower? I would love to see you!

[Lisa]

I used the Moby wrap with my twins (one at a time) but they were winter babies. In the summer it was definitely too hot to use the Moby. In the winter it was so nice and warm, though. Even when I took them out I didn't want to take it off. It is so cozy.

In the summer we used a Baby Bjorn summer carrier but my favorite still is (they are 15M, now) a hand-me-down New Native sling. It is easy to put on and they both love being in it.

Best of luck and congrats! You are more than well prepared. Hugs.

[Jaye Jaye]

I am constantly forgetting to click submit twice on my posts (I'm sure there are more posts my comments didn't post to, too :(). Know that I did type a long and lengthy comment earlier -- but here is the condensed nursing at keyboard version!

Micah.

Ditto the gauze wrap. Or fold a blanket for a make-do infant insert. Worked great with Nava in my DIY SSC.

Big hugs on the rest of your pregnancy, almost there!!!

[Melissa]

Boy names -I love Jacob, Alex, Adam, Andrew. Just realized I must have a thing for "A".

I tried the Belly Bandit after my 3rd son and didn't like it at all. It would roll down in the back & it drove me crazy! I ended up buying a few control tanks from Burlington for about $12 each which worked great.

Like Jill, I made my own Moby style wrap out of stretchy material (the kind that rolls at the edges when cut). I absolutely LOVE that thing! I've tried a few different carriers and I think this is by far the most comfortable. I like the way I can spread the material over my back and shoulders and distribute the weight evenly. I put my 35 pound 3 year old in it just to prove to my husband that it was stable. Unfortunately I do think it would be quite warm in the summer, especially for baby. My one complaint is that it is a very long piece of material. It's not a big deal if you put it on at home but it's a little awkward to handle if you decide you want to wear it when you're out and about.

Best of luck with your delivery. I saw a live birth for the first time a couple of months ago and I must say, it's an absolutely amazing miracle. Congratulations.

[Angie]

I am due a bit after you- in about 3 weeks. We are having a boy too! Ours will be named after my grandfather- John Henry, nicknamed Jack. The Moby is hot for summer- but lovely to carry the little ones in in the fall and winter. I loved that I could pull it up over my daughter's head (not all the way) but as a bit of a "hoodie" to block the wind, etc. Good luck, I will be thinking about you a lot in the next weeks to come!