Cole-normally I wouldn't iron it, but it is sooooo wrinkled--I rarely iron my regular clothes!!!

As for the gender, with my 1st DD I was one of those poor souls that despertly wanted to know the gender and she DID NOT cooperate at all! She kept her legs crossed during the time when they checked for gender. My doc wouldn't do another ultrasound because it wasn't medically necessary! This time I asked them to check early--thank goodness I did, because when it came time to check she didn't want to cooperate either!

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I'm one of those that didn't find out. I really wanted it to be a surprise until the end. The only trouble I had was trying to shop which in light turns out to be a good thing since I would have bought hundreds of dollars in clothes by now if I knew. It really curbs the urge to shop. I normally am the type that likes to have everything planned and under control but this time I just felt like sitting back and not driving myself crazy with knowing!

Jen - how nice of your friend to give you a shower! It is nice to have great supporters!

ksh - take it easy! Your little one needs time to develop those little lungs too.

Amber - Glad your appt was good. Can't wait to hear what you are having!

Bina - There was quite a gap after I got my BFP. They are kind of scarce anymore.

I had my appt yesterday. My b/p is up a bit but I've been check out for preeclampsia and it was negative so must just be the extra weight?? I didn't have her check me to see if I've dialated any more. I don't want to know. I'm pretty sure I'll hold out until next Monday. Induction doesn't sound like much fun either... The pain factor is really starting to sink in now. Its my last week of work though!! Well, I better get back to work. Hope you all are having a good day!

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Dana

Dana-I guess the good thing about not finding out is that OTHER people don't go crazy buying you clothes and maybe get you necessities. There is nothing that women love to do more than shop for baby girl clothes. When you say the pain factor, do you mean you are currently in pain, or worried about the pain of labor?

Kristy-oh what torture that must have been, not knowing Liv's gender!

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Dana - if you're worried about the pain of being induced, don't worry. Yeah, it'll hurt, but so does natural labor! I went from my 37w appt. straight to the hospital & was induced that night due to my high b/p. I knew I wanted an epidural as soon as I could get one & I got to about 4/4.5 cm when the anestheiologist (sp?) finally got to my room. I don't have a 'natural' labor to compare it to, but I really don't see how ANY contractions can be LESS painful if they are natural vs. with pitocin. Are you going to get any pain meds?

Kristy - I can't imagine going through the entire pregnancy not knowing the gender - especially since you wanted to know so badly!

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The baby is moving.

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Dana, at one of my last visits my BP was up a bit and my doc told me to drink some gatorade because it can go up with dehydration and that worked great!

Amber, YAY for feeling movement!!!

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Cole-from what I have heard contractions brought on from pitocin tend to be more intense and close together than natural ones, but of course everyone is different! My "contractions" felt like gas pains and I had the big D so didn't even know they were contractions. Of course by the time I got to the hospital, they felt more painful but I was already close to 9cm by then! Luckily I still got the epidural...at that point I was more scared of the pain of pushing than contractions.

You girls have to watch Ricki Lake's documentary "The business of being born" It is very much pro-natural birth and anit-hospitals though, but I still enjoyed it. I have a link to where you can watch it online if anyone is interested.

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Dana-I don't even want to think about labor. The thought of it in general scares the hell out of me. And yes I know it's a little late to worry about that. HA HA. I think we hear all the stories and assume the worse, which sometimes makes our own experience not as bad. Regardless once it's all over you will be so happy to ahve your bundle of joy!

Jen-Glad you had a good time in LA. We have an H & M but I've never been in there. May be next time I'll need to check them out. I wore my first pair of maternity pants to work today and it was so much better! I want to see some belly pictures. I posted a couple at the end of May's thread so it's your turn!

I am also one that has to know the sex of the baby. I'm a big time planner and very anal and need control. I was like that with our wedding and I drove my mom nuts because I wouldn't let her do anything. But now she knows how I am so she doesn't push it with the baby stuff. I'm afraid though like Dana said I'll be out shopping for the next 3-4 months once I find out....and yes I will cry too if the baby doesn't cooperate!

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Heidi- Just think, if it were that bad we would all be only children LOL I promise you will be FINE!

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dana-I was induced all 3 times with my dc. Don't stress about it, it will be a far memory once the baby is here. Labor is labor, but it is soooo worth it. Take it easy the next few days, I'm sure if they were worried about the b/p they would have induced you tonight. I was induced twice because of b/p issues. Just thinking about you, can't wait to hear your story and see your little one.

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Bina - good point about the other people buying stuff too! My MIL has already bought so much stuff and we don't know. I couldn't imagine how she will be once we know! Such a helpful lady, I really do love her but man she is a little wild about this baby! Holy crap! A 9 before you went in?!? Was the baby falling out?!?

Tulip - You're right...it will hurt! I'm leaving my pain med options open. I'm sure I will get something to calm me down...I just am not sure about the spinal block yet??

Amber - Cool feeling, huh?

Lisa - I never thought about dehydration...I didn't eat lunch before going to the dr at 2:45. Thanks for the tip! I'll be sure to keep hydrated. Of course I know that I need to drink, drink, drink but it gets old sometimes! You are right the pain of labor is very worth the outcome!! I can't wait!

Heidi - Yes, it is a little late to think about how this is going to come out of my body, now, isn't it?!? Yikes! You will have a blast shopping!! Don't get too overboard though!

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Dana

Dana - My L&D wasn't bad at all. Not everyone has a very painful experience. I was close to 6 cm when I had my Epidural. I was doing well but they were in the process of getting pitocin started so I got the Epi so I wouldn't have to deal with the harder contractions. I was already in labor before my induction but my contractions were sporadic hence the pitocin. I wish that they would have let me labor on my own because I would have went longer without meds AND Marika would have probably handled it better (see below).

Amber - Feeling your baby is the most WONDERFUL feeling! Cherish every moment because it goes SO fast!

I only skimmed through the thread but on the subject of pitocin (and NO intention to scare) but Marika's heart rate started dipping while I was trying to deliver and the OB had to use a vacuum because he was concerned about her. I honestly think that the pitocin made her do that. She was COMPLETELY fine and red when she was born but she just had some complications while I was pushing.

I am ready to see some nurseries, some u/s pics and BELLIES. Let's see some more bellies girls!

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I'm starting to wanna nest. All we have thus far is like 2 onesies, a tub, and thats about it. We don't really even have anywhere to put a baby as of now. We are moving in late july/early august. So until then.... Nada.

At first I thought I had gas but then I realized it was doing strange things. Feels funny. Weird. Neat.

I'm with Heidi. I'm kind of scared of getting this thing out of me.

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Amber-Glad I'm not the only one! Don't feel bad because we haven't been able to do much either about getting prepared. We have to reorganize bedrooms and get a bathroom redone first before I can think about nesting and preparing!

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Bina~ I'm interested in watching it. Will you post the link please?

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Amber & Heidi- just to put your minds at ease. . .my labor and delivery wasn't that bad either. I won't lie, it hurt, but it was bearable. While I didn't have pitocin I had other drugs (stadol and mag. sulfate) and they did warn me while I was delivering that sometimes babies need extra oxygen when they come out because of this (I don't remember which drug caused that). DD came out fine and didn't need oxygen after all. You girls can do it and you will do GREAT!!

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Amber-here it is, http://video.google.com/googleplayer...20254789409121 It comes up as a weird picture but just hit play and it will start. It really is eye-opening!

Dana-without going into my whole labor story, my contractions basically were during the big D, so I thought it was food poisoning and didn't know it was labor until I started bleeding and thought something had ruptured, so we went to the hospital and they checked me to find that I was already 7cm by the time the epi came I was at a 9cm. I'd always heard first time labor went on for hours and hours so never expected it to be so quick! This time I will be much more prepared!!

Kayla-poor Marika! After watching that documentary I totally agree with you on pitocin.

I need to try and take a belly pic later today, before my 8 weeks passes.

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