# Pregnant Sister: Freaking out: Please help **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2005, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070 "2005-04-13T02:55:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/41 "2005-04-14T02:25:20Z")
Wow, **Guinastasia** ’s brilliant! That is a fanstastic idea, **Guin**! Less baby blankets, more mom pamperin’! ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/42 "2005-04-14T02:38:19Z")
Two words: body pillow. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/43 "2005-04-14T02:58:59Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > Damn you, **Shirley**! Now I really _neeeeeeeed_ those patterns. Sammy’s birthday’s coming up in a few months, you know. Heh. They are even cuter when you can see them all. Everyone I show this book too just turns into a pile of 12 year old girly girls at a slumber party…“ooooh, these are soooo cuuuuute…I want one. Will you make one for me? Please? Now! Is that a problem?” Yeah, I’m Edward Scissorhand, kid. Send me an email with your address and if I can remember I will xerox a couple of them and mail them your direction. ( Sorry, me and the scanner are not speaking to each other and the scanner and the printer haven’t spoken in nearly a year.) (Remembering is all contingent on the fact that I have a) My son’s 7th birthday Extravaganza to plan (extravaganza is what he wants. What I want is cheap and not raining.) b) 18 scrapbooks/yearbooks to do for my daughter’s preschool c) do my volunteer thingie at school and (most critically) d) find a new bowling ball/wheeled bag. e) Sell shit on ebay to make money to buy D… Oh, and finish about 20 projects that I’ve bought everything for but have been distra…ooooooooh, look, dust bunnies! In contusion, [here](http://www.aprilcornell.com/gfdaisyered-feb05.html) is something to buy in the event that you fail at the above projects. I dare you not to go…“Awwwwwweeeeee I wants it!” (Check out the other aminals and dollies here. Affordably priced rag dolls and patchwork aminals. Ca-Ute. IMHO.) ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/44 "2005-04-14T03:07:15Z")
I will have to give a big second to **Craftster** which just rocks. I’m am also Shirley there. Though I haven’t a nth of the talent, time or money that the rest of those gals do. But it is awesome…just awesome. Babies don’t need knitted bathrobes. They need knitted smoking jackets and cravats, dahling. 🙂 [Obligatory Craftster Link to cute baby booties.](http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=14033.0) If you want to do something for your sister, start her on something that will not only become a source of “mom-speak” but a life long addiction: buy her a scrapbook. Like Creative Memories or similar. Just start her on the first book…(Like $60 with refill pages and some other stuff.) Then watch her addiction grow. I’m not into it, but those that are are insane about it. I am pretty sure that a heroin addiction is only slightly more expensive. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/45 "2005-04-14T03:09:02Z")
:smack: Miss Violaceous and I linked the same booties. GMTA. Feh. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/46 "2005-04-14T03:38:09Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Sorry if that came off snarky towards moms, it wasn’t meant to. I know lots of women don’t know their conception dates. It just drove me nuts that at every single conversation I had with a midwife or doctor or nurse, they blew off the date I told them and checked the ultrasound dates. Except, see…I had been celibate for three months beforehand and two weeks afterwards! I have also been an FAMer for 3 years! So I was able not only to tell them the night of intercourse, but the night six days later when ovulation happened, and due to that enormous time difference between the two, my 90% surety that it was a girl! (And, as it turned out, I was right on all three accounts!) But I kept getting these irritatingly patronizing pats on the head and told they’d check the ultrasound “just to be sure.” Grr. I get annoyed too. I know the exact date I conceived as well. There was one date when it was physically possible, and it had been well over a month since the last such occasion. So whenever they ask for the date of my last menstrual period, I tell them I know the conception date if that helps. They always imply I couldn’t possibly know that. Irritating. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/47 "2005-04-14T04:34:52Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > If you really want to give her something, but since it’s too early for the baby stuff, why not make something your sister can use while she’s pregnant? Maybe a small afghan to bundle up in? I don’t know what climate her sister lives in, but she’s going to be spending most of her pregnancy in summer, and I know that at least for me, I was a freakin’ RADIATOR when I was pregnant. NOTHING I did could cool me off, I was just burning up hot the whole time. Just sayin’ maybe a blanket for mom isn’t the most practical. However, I’d have killed my own mother for a membership to a swimming pool. Just for the “weightless” relief of back pain, if not for the escape from the heat. I agree that something for “mom” would be appropriate, though. Just not sure a blanket is what’s called for, given that it’s going to be a summer pregnancy. ‘s all I’m sayin’, is all. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/48 "2005-04-14T05:05:33Z")
Yay!!! Congrats!!! I’m sure it’ll be just fine, sweetie. If I could do it, just about anyone can!\* Ooooh! She can be pregnancy buddies with Britney Spears! ok, you can hit me for that. Also, Giraffes are great! Anything but those damn ducks. Everyone gave us duck themed clothing when we had out kid, and we are finally getting out of the last of it. No ducks! Go giraffes and doggies and zebras. 🙂 \*long story short: I was told at 18 I would never have children after suffering some serious trauma to my lady parts. 10 years later, Tinkleberry sneaks in my uterus. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/49 "2005-04-14T07:05:07Z")
> [@OpalCat](#): > > However, I’d have killed my own mother for a membership to a swimming pool. Just for the “weightless” relief of back pain, if not for the escape from the heat. Yessssssssssssssssssss! Floating in a pool when you’re 8 months along is about as close to heaven as it gets! ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/50 "2005-04-14T07:12:58Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Send me an email with your address and if I can remember I will xerox a couple of them and mail them your direction. Thank you, dearest, you’re extraordinarily kind. I’ve sent you an email, and if you don’t get it for some reason, try hitting the hotmail account in my profile. If you or anyone else would like to raid Fun Auntie Tamara’s Quilting Stash O’ Cuteness, just let me know. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/51 "2005-04-14T11:29:31Z")
Got it and sent one hurtling back atcha. Keepin’ the lurve goin’… ---
**Author:** ![ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c77e96/32.png) [@ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChoosyChipsAndCeilingWhacks)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/52 "2005-04-15T12:21:26Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Wow, **Guinastasia** ’s brilliant! That is a fanstastic idea, **Guin**! Less baby blankets, more mom pamperin’! I’ve already knitted her some socks! I agree that this is a great idea. I want to send HER gifts. I just don’t really know what she NEEDS. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/53 "2005-04-15T14:11:29Z")
She needs a warmy bag to use on her aches and pains, which will be increasing as her pregnancy progresses. They make faboo gifties for just about anyone; they’re fast, easy and cheap, but you can make them deceptively schmancy by using nice fabrics for the covers. Up till this point I’ve used flannel or fleece for covers, but I’ve been pondering running some up that have panne velvet covers. But I couldn’t make you one darling, I’m far too busy, so beg me now before I regain my sanity. Oh, really, you’re too persuasive. Fine, I’ll do it. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/54 "2005-04-15T15:07:52Z")
> [@CrazyCatLady](#): > > She needs a warmy bag to use on her aches and pains, which will be increasing as her pregnancy progresses. They make faboo gifties for just about anyone; they’re fast, easy and cheap, but you can make them deceptively schmancy by using nice fabrics for the covers. Up till this point I’ve used flannel or fleece for covers, but I’ve been pondering running some up that have panne velvet covers. But I couldn’t make you one darling, I’m far too busy, so beg me now before I regain my sanity. Oh, really, you’re too persuasive. Fine, I’ll do it. Hey! Ixnay of the eapchay! That’s my standard holiday gift, made with love and served up in a dollar store basket with a bookstore gift card, some chocolate and custom made tea! 😃 If she’s going to be pregnant during the summer, I’d make one in satin or _shivers_ silk - it can be kept in the freezer, and the material will feel so nice and cool on her skin. Make a bag and fill it with dry rice and some dried flowers and/or herbs. The classic is lavender flowers. Rosebuds are nice, but might be too perfumy for pregnancy. Rosemary is amazingly fab for muscle aches, and mixes well with lavender, so you could do some of each. Chamomile has a nice appley scent, and often helps with nausea or morning sickness. She can use it cool or stick it in the microwave for about 2 minutes for a nice warm pack. If she spritzes it with water before microwaving it, it will stay warm longer and release more of its scent. ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/55 "2005-04-15T16:17:47Z")
Rice? Pah! I use deer corn. When you nuke it, the corn smells all warm and homey and comfy. I lurves it, I do. Plus, I find that putting an ice pack directly on skin is rather too cold. The added thickness of the velvet will help buffer it while still feeling nice to the skin. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/56 "2005-04-15T22:37:11Z")
Wow, this preggers Doper is DEFINITELY wishing she had a sister … someone to get all excited like the OP! My stepsisters (in another city) just are not the same … ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/57 "2005-04-15T22:40:09Z")
\*apologizes for saying preggers - I have NEVER said that before in my life and promise not to say it again \* ---
**Author:** ![cher3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/da6949/32.png) [@cher3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cher3)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/58 "2005-04-15T22:43:11Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > Two words: body pillow. I loved my body pillow in the later stages. It’s like a bra for your belly (in a good way.) Two days after we brought my son home, he peed all over my pillow, just to let me know who was boss. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/59 "2005-04-23T02:46:13Z")
[Dr. Zhivago Baby booties & matching blankie](http://www.zebrahall.com/501651.html) Yeah, baby! [More toys for future gift giving guffaws!](http://www.zebrahall.com/z052-kcs001.html) ---
**Author:** ![tanookie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@tanookie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tanookie)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070/60 "2005-04-23T03:15:45Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > How far along is your sister? I have friends who had to take progesterone in the early days of their pregnancies and ended up with perfectly healthy babies. Is your sister also in the Boston area? If so, where is she getting her prenatal care? > > I think it’s great that you’re so excited. My own experience tells me that you will get less frantic with time, and better able to just enjoy events as they unfold. [This from someone who operates on a low level of ‘frantic’ at all times, but still managed to have some moments of peace and happy excitement throughout 2 pregnancies.] Wow! Hey Lorene how are those munchkins? Really… just be happy with your sister, OPToolongtospell, and as far as mom pampering… lotions for when your skin goes wonky, mebbe a massage for pregnant ladies gift certificate, a foot massage thingie? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pregnant-sister-freaking-out-please-help/299070.md?page=4)