<p>Oh, Zoosermom, that is so good to know. I am due in two months with #7 and this was not planned. Just as I was adjusting to the shock (which took three months) I was hit hard with prenatal depression and am still climbing my way out of it (on meds).</p>
<p>I’ve been a little worried that I might not bond with this baby like I did with the others but I am encouraged by your post. :)</p>
<p>And once again, you crack me up. This time with this:</p>
<p>“The poor doctor was so traumatized that he had to lie down.”.</p>
<p>Village mom, I never had a real bond with him during the pregnancy. Just couldn’t get my head around it for a lot of reasons. After he was born and my husband left the hospital and baby was brought in to nurse. Horrible delivery, exhausted, practically delirious. I almost dropped him and my heart contracted in terror. I knew then that I was ready to let him in. If you could see me with him now you would never believe he wasn’t wanted. Part of my anger was with the people who were sure we had been trying for a boy as if my girls weren’t good enough.</p>
<p>My advice to you, if I may be so bold, is to wallow in the babyness. Drink in his or her smell, indulge yourself in as many kisses and cuddles as you ever want, be conscious of the particular weight of a newborn in the crook of your arm. Babies are such luxurious, decadent, temporary indulgences. Enjoy every minute. I am very envious but I wish you all joy and good health.</p>
<p>wallow in the babyness. Drink in his or her smell, indulge yourself in as many kisses and cuddles as you ever want, be conscious of the particular weight of a newborn in the crook of your arm. Babies are such luxurious, decadent, temporary indulgences. Enjoy every minute. I am very envious but I wish you all joy and good health. >>>>></p>
<p>That is very beautiful and so true. I wallowed in second son’s babyness. Little did I know that my wonderful suprise baby #3 was going to give me another go at it!</p>
<p>I sometimes think we get very caught up in what we have to do or should do that we don’t take the time to enjoy, but babies are so so so delicious. My son may not be the neatest or most organized guy, but he is a connoisseur of cuddles and is completely comfortable in expressing love.</p>
<p>I had two ultrasounds during my last pregnancy, one at the beginning and one at 28-30 weeks. Two different doctors/hospitals, both said I was having a boy. I was extactic, H was disappointed as he wanted a girl. FF to delivery and out pops a girl. I was depressed for three weeks. Finally, I mentally kicked myself in the arse and got over my disappointment. D is now 17 and a great kid.</p>
<p>Although, she did wear boys clothes for the first year of her life as we hadn’t bought anything girly.</p>
<p>I was pretty sure I was pregnant back with my first,but that was before over the counter tests. We were destitute grad students but open to starting our family. The (younger than me) volunteer at Planned Parenthood couldn’t understand that I wasn’t interested in food stamps or WIC programs. If we were having a kid, we were supporting it - end of story.
Thank goodness though, for Planned Parenthood, who provided subsidized birth control pills for three years from engagement, next year wedding, to kid 1.</p>
<p>I remember taking the home test on a Saturday morning while my H was at work. It was before cell phones and he was driving a local delivery truck at the time so was not available by phone. I just remember wanting to call my mother so badly to tell her the news, but knew that my husband would be furious if he was not the first to know. Had to wait all day before I could share the news with friends and family.</p>
<p>I am a twin and my mother says she did not know she was having twins until about a week before we arrived when the doctor heard two heartbeats. She must have been huge–my brother weighed 7-something and I 6-something pounds.</p>
<p>Oh, VillageMom, I hope you don’t have more trouble with depression. If it ‘takes a village’ to raise a child, your elder kids might just enjoy your new baby and help out some. Best wishes to you and good luck.</p>
<p>You all are wonderful, thank you so much! I truly appreciate the support and advice. (And I’m sorry for derailing the thread!)</p>
<p>Zoosermom’s advice is spot-on and exactly what I would tell another mother in this situation. Unfortunately right now all I can think of is how much work it’s going to be and the sacrifices required and blerg, I’ve btdt already! But I know most of it is just the depression talking.</p>
<p>Happily, (and bless you, Treetopleaf, for your empathy) I’ve got four teens who are and will be an enormous help. My husband is great, too. And once the baby is born I can take the really good meds. And wine! But not together.</p>
<p>It was 19 years ago that we learned we were expecting #1. A nurse called with the results of a blood test, since the home tests were coming back negative. I hung up the phone and told my husband and he said, “Congratulations.”. He’s such a weirdo. :)</p>
<p>This time when I finally told him he grasped the edge of the tub and kind of slunk to his knees. I think his face even went pale. I could totally relate!</p>
Once the baby is born, you can take a break from him or her – knowing that he or she will be in the good care of his/her siblings. I’m going to impose my busybody self here. I am the much, much younger sibling of five – much like your new precious. And I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that the greatest gift you can give to your baby is to foster as aggressively as you feel able, the relationship between baby and his/her siblings. My parents didn’t do that and I ended up a lonely only of exhausted parents and have always been left out of the relationships that the siblings have with each other. I’m not telling you to pick an older kid and have him/her raise your new sweetie, but please don’t hesitate to let them do things together or build a relationship that works for them. In other words, don’t let worry about imposing on the older kids get in the way of their bonding. You have such a great sense of humor and such clarity about the situation that it does seem like you will all be just fine. However, you will be in my thoughts and prayers and I hope to hear wonderful baby news from you.</p>
<h1>31–Makes me think of how my oldest S (who was 16 when #7 was born) taught “Baby” how to play video games. Something disturbing about calling “Baby, it’s time for bed!” and hearing your 3yo daughter reply, “Just a minute–I gotta KILL this guy first!”</h1>
<p>When she was about 4, Baby ran up to me in the kitchen and hugged my legs, saying “You’re my mommy!” Oldest D (18) was standing next to me. Then Baby hugged D’s legs and said, “And you’re my Nuther Mommy!” D was such a wonderful big sister–though I didn’t ask her to change diapers or babysit much, she voluntarily took her younger sibs on outings and enjoyed it very much. Baby is now 8. Honestly, I would still do it again, but I have to be content to wait for grandchildren now.
Wishing you the best, VM.</p>
<p>My sisters kids are 30 & 27,24,21& 6.
No idea if she is going to have another, since they all live together, it is getting fairly crowded.
I remember her first was born practically nine months to the day of when she was married @ 19, which she was terribly embarrassed about for some reason.</p>
<p>Well, she didnt tell me since I was there for the inception (yes, first try), I was there during the test and I was with her at the doctors office confirming.</p>
<p>But I certainly remember both births. They were both somewhat eventful (everything turned out fine) and they are the two greatest days of my life.</p>
<p>But I certainly remember both births. They were both somewhat eventful (everything turned out fine) and they are the two greatest days of my life.</p>
<p>My first three pregnancies ended in miscarriages and I’ve blocked the entire experience from my mind. However, I do remember telling H about our fourth pregnancy (the one that finally ended in a baby! Hooray!)
I thought I had the flu and wanted some nyquil. H was convinced I was pregnant and didn’t want me to take the nyquil. So, we went to a walk-in clinic where they did a blood test. I walked back out to my husband in the waiting room and said, “You were right!” We were both very happy in a very cautious sort of way. It was the day before my birthday; best birthday gift I ever got.</p>
<p>This thread is bringing back happy memories for me, for which I’m grateful. My eldest D will turn 33 this weekend. She was a planned child. Five days after the day I am sure I conceived her (coincidently, September 9, expectant mothers day) , I felt pregnant. I told my H that I was pretty sure I was “with child” because of the symptoms I was experiencing. It was too soon to do an at home pregnancy test and they were no where near as reliable as they are today. It seems like you couldn’t take one until you were two weeks late. I decided to go ahead and make an appointment with an OB for the “two weeks late” date. H could not accompany me that day. The doctor told me he could tell I was pregnant from the physical exam alone - he said no blood test was necessary. I was thrilled beyond belief. H got the news the moment he got home from work.</p>
<p>DH and I went to Hawaii for our 4th anniversary. We were trying for a baby at the time. I got sick and we went to the doctor. I told her my period was late and she gave me a pregnancy test- positive! We went to a luau that night to celebrate but for the rest of the vacation I couldn’t drink Mai tai’s or pi</p>
