Just my $0.02 -
As I said, I had three negative tests. My friend had two.
Wait a few days and try it again, first thing in the morning…
To update, while Natalie’s still in the hospital, she’s feeling somewhat better, and they say they’ll let her go home after she breaks the fever for 24 hours, so hopefully by Tuesday or Wednesday.
In other news, does anyone have a recommendation for car seats? Since we’re talking about buying stuff cheap and all… Appearently, there’s a type that’s more expensive, but can be converted from a rear-facing infant seat to a front-facing seat for older children. Are these A) safe and B) more cost-effective over time? How about renting these things?
Best of luck to everyone trying for it! We definitely weren’t, but that’s another story…
And extra congrats to Mrs. Moto for pulling a double-shift, so to speak. (Was there someone else with twins I missed?)
34 weeks today!!! The nursery is put together, Aaron’s got more clothes than your average supermodel, and all we’re doing is getting bigger. And sleeping. And peeing.
My OB is planning to induce me at least a week or two before my actual due date. Aaron is on track to be at least nine pounds if he goes to due date, and that, and the fact that I’m group B strep positive means I need to be in the hospital before I start labor, which means induction. Basically, my OB wants to be able to control as much of the labor and delivery as possible, and the easiest way to do that is to induce it himself (or do a c-section).
Sani, there are some good rear-to-front facing car seats out there. I’m getting one through the hospital I’m delivering at. You might also get one as a gift. Check with the hospital where Natalie’s delivering to see if they have a baby safety instructor who can show you what to look for and how to shop for one. According to the nurse who did the safety-seat class at my hospital, a car seat is NOT something you want to buy used.
Robin
Congratulations all!!! What a Doper baby boom we’re having! 
moggy–The people may be asking you about the nursery just as a way of making conversation. After all, what are they gonna ask you: “So, how’d it happen?” As Cranky said, there is no need to get it done anytime soon.
This is the way I thought of it: If the baby is born very early, it’s likely he will have to stay in the hospital for a while, giving you time to finish setting up, so there is no need to get it done very early. What is the earliest that he could be born unexpectedly and have a chance at leaving the hospital with you? I dunno, 7.5 months or so?? So by that time, you should have the barest necessities in the house, but you don’t need any more than the barest necessities–someone can run out and get more things as needed.
IMHO, these are the barest necessities that you should have available:
–infant car seat
–package of newborn diapers (get the ones designed to accomodate the umbilicus. Huggies and Pampers make them.)
–a few pieces of clothing
–a few receiving blankets.
–rubbing alcohol, baby wash, baby lotion, diaper rash ointment
–if bottle feeding, a few bottles and some formula
Of course you’ll need a boatload of other stuff, but the above should get you through a couple of days if need be. You’ll feel better having it in the house.
SanibelMan:
You will want both an infant-only seat and also an infant/toddler conversion seat. Why not just the conversion one? Well, newborns are really really tiny, and the conversion ones are simply too big to get a good fit. Infant seats are smaller and snugger accomodate young babies a lot better. And of course, they’re safer.
Plus, most of the infant carriers are set up so that you can snap the carrier out of the base, so you can take the carrier out of the car with the baby in it. So you don’t have to wake/disturb your sleeping baby (this is invaluable!!!). When you go out with the baby, you can snap the carrier onto a stroller thingie. Your baby can also hang out in the seat in the house. Arthur is happiest in his carrier, whether in the car, in the house, or out and about. Basically, the carrier is with me all the time.
Some advice–Get the infant-only seat!. Scrimp and save everywhere else, but whatever you do, don’t try and go cheap on the infant car seat. Buy new. Buy top quality. Don’t futz around with something that is “not quite right.” It will pay off in peace of mind.
In other words, the infant/toddler conversion may seem like it’s cost effective, but the 80 bucks to get the infant-only one will be the best money you ever spent.
Ours is an ordinary Graco one. . We are very happy with it. There are some really fancy/expensive ones out there, but a basic good-quality one will suit you fine. (You should make sure you get one with a “5-point harness.”)
At some point, the baby will outgrow the infant seat. He may outgrow it before he is a year old. Therefore, he still has to face rearward. But by this point, he’ll be a lot bigger and able to hold his head up, etc. At this point, you can switch him to the conversion seat in the “infant” position. When he is ready, you will switch him to the “toddler” position. Of course you needn’t buy the conversion seat until later.
p.s. I started a couple of how do you “get ready for baby?” threads while I was pregnant. I think they might have been lost in the crash. I’ll look for them…
Here is the thread I started on baby-gear advice.
Lots of good advice in these threads.
Poysyn, that’s the plan. Wait a few days, test again. I may just skip another pee test and go straight for blood, I don’t know.
Either way looks like I’ll be visiting the doctor.
Well, add at least one symptom to my list.
Daughter came home from a weekend at the in-law’s. She was sleeping when husband brought her in, and when I managed to pry her outta his arms, what did I do when I was holding her?
WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
I can’t believe I’m going to have another one. Y is almost two, and things are getting easier eating and sleepingwise, and in roughly 8 months, I’m going to start over.
It’s a strange feeling, thinking that you will have a whole new person in your life.
I’ve been feeling a bit dizzy lately and my ankles get swollen if I stand up for too long.
I also DESPERATELY need to find some sort of allergy cure. The doctors here in France are much more conservative when it comes to medications given during pregnancy or nursing, so I’ll see what the OB says.
BTW, I’m pretty experienced with nursing issues, so if anyone needs any advice/support, let me know.
Mrs. Shagnasty is due in less than 10 days. She has done remarkably well so far and will probably continue to work right up until the moment she gives birth to our daughter.
One thing that I thought was funny was that we definetly wanted to know the sex during the first ultrasound. We didn’t care either way but we were remodeling the house at the time and really needed to know. People are always saying to me, “Didn’t you want it to be a surprise?” I always say, “We were surprised!”. Some people don’t get it.
Anahita - Doctors here are pretty careful, especially in the first trimester. They usually recommend NOTHING.
That said, I belong to a pregnancy message board and they have mentioned a few things you should ask your doctor about. Here is the url -
http://forums.americanbaby.com/ab-pregnancy/messages/?start=Start+Reading+>>
Also, my sister has phoned Mother Risk and they are sinding her a list. They are a group of doctors in Toronto that put out information about which drugs are safe for pregnancy. When I get my copy I’ll let you know what it says. Allergies suck.
Poysyn,
I’m pretty sure I cannot take anything, but thanks anyway! I wouldn’t take anything that was even slightly risky.
Here’s a link to my birth story from my first child, but beware, it is SCARY and involves me shattering my tailbone!
Hi everybody!
How far along:
just starting week 21 (19 weeks gestational)
How am I feeling?
Well, in the beginning I had constant nausea. Now, the nausea has calmed down a bit; however, I’m more likely to actually vomit now, unlike before. I’m starting to get very scatterbrained and clumsier than usual. I’ve been tired since day one.
Do I know the sex of my baby?
According to the ultrasound 2 weeks ago, this will be a girl. I was expecting her to be a boy (I thought I had some kind of intuition on this), so I was a bit surprised.
When is my due date?
5 November 2002
Any special food cravings/aversions?
For some reason, the thought of soup made my stomach turn.
I’ve had cravings for hamburgers, mexican food, and some other things that I can’t quite remember at this moment. My food aversions generally come in the form of my making a big dinner/lunch/etc and then not wanting it because it turns me off for some reason.
Other stuff:
Sleeping with a pillow between my legs has proven to be the best thing for my back. I recommend this to anyone with lower back pain.
We can’t start working on the nursery until the new computer room is built, so we can put the old computer room stuff in there. I can’t complain too much as the in-laws are doing it for free.
I apologize for any spelling and/or grammar errors. My mind is not what it once was.
OKay,
anyone who would like to participate in an online/email support email me - poysyn@hotmail.com. I’m going to get help to build an online community for it.
It doesn’t matter about due dates, this way we can help those further behind and get help from those ahead.
Hey, I put this thing together, I hope it works -
I had a blood test at the hospital today.
Was negative.
Oh well.
I couldn’t find it. 
Robin
OKay,
let me try again - http://groups.msn.com/TheStraightDopeOnPregnancy/homepage
I joined!
I’m so sorry, WV_Woman.
Better luck next time.
Me too!
BTW, I had to go to the OB’s office for a non-stress test this morning. Seems my belly was strained a bit when the baby shifted. But everything’s okay. No contractions, good heartbeat, and he’s still pretty active.
Robin