[larklynn]

Hope your appointment goes well today Sarah.

[sarahelaine57]

Well all went well at the appointment, hb was 140 ...a little lower that what I see when I use the doppler but the nurse said it was pretty normal to have a variance between machines, as long as it is between 120 and 180. She had a little trouble finding it and I told her I usually find it up high but she continued to try low, oh well she found it. It's kind of funny how quick this appointment went, and there were very few questions. We decided not to have the one test done, and we were asked about it twice so I think they wanted us to do it but DH and I feel that even if there was something wrong it would not matter, we will love this baby no matter what happens.
I did get in a little trouble with the doctor when I asked him how often I can use the doppler, and he said he would prefer that I don't use it at all, because even medical doctors in training have a hard time finding the hb sometimes, I didn't say anything so he finally said I could use it whenever I wanted, just not to get upset if I didn't find the hb...but I have been able to find it every time I use it, sometimes it just takes a little longer. On a lighter note we did get our doctor to laugh a couple of times, actually once when I told him I was a little neurotic, well actually a lot, I must have a reputation at the docs office!
Anyhoo May 6th is my u/s and gender scan, hopefully the time will fly and the baby will cooperate. I asked about the 3D u/s and he said we could do it at 28 weeks...I was kind of hoping to do it before my 20 week scan so we could have a sneek peak, but I guess I will just have to be patient! SOmething I am sooo not good at. Everyone keeps telling me this time will fly by and so far I feel like I am on the slow train!!! ANother month wait begins, ahhhhhhh! At least I will be busy with a vacation and work is going to be pretty busy the next few weeks, what an nice birthday present to get to see my baby!

[BabySteps]

Sarah, congrats on a wonderful doctors appt. It will be exciting to have your gender scan!!! I bet you can't wait!!

I know how you feel about time. Sometimes I think the days drag by and when I look into the future it feels like I have forever until I have these babies!!! When I see that I am 18 weeks though, I think Wow! I remember when I first joined this forum, I was envious of people who were safely into their pregnancy. Now we are!!

Well we finally decided to go ahead and buy some cribs. That is the first thing we have planned for the babies except some little clothes. We decided to go with a cherry color. It will work nice with a mixed gender bunch and the cribs also convert to toddler and full size beds. The dark wood also matches our furniture in our house. We joke that the crib would look good in the living room!! OMG could you imagine. We went with a sleigh style that drops on both sides which makes it versitle for when we arrange them all in one room. I liked another one that was higher on one side but I was worried it might not be that practical or easy to fit all 3 in a smallish room. Now I have to buy some bedding and then pick out a color to paint the walls. I am not going to "nursery" them crazy, so that the room will not have to be redone when we sell the house.

Awhile back you may remember I talked about buying cribs from Walmart... Well we did and it broke putting it together so we took them back and shopped elsewhere. We bought Delta cribs which are JPMA certified and are easy to put together and sturdy!!! I was naive to think that all cribs that were sold had to be certified...not the case. We got our 1st multiples discount!!!! Yipppeee!
shinnysidescrib.JPG

[designdiva32]

Shelly I love the crib, the colors great. Was it still a good price like at Walmart? I still haven't even figured out where to buy the nursery furniture...we are a bit limited here in Canada. Supposedly they make amazing baby furniture here only it gets sent to the US and what we are left with is crazy expensive. At least thats what I've noticed...if there wasn't duty to pay I would cross the border and stock up there.

Sarah, thats great your appointment went so well. I know what you mean about the waiting, its all taking so long! My next appointment is next week Friday and I was supposed to have my triple screen done last week but I've just not got around to it yet. I'll try to squeeze it in later this week. I kinda wish I wasn't having it done either...but the doctors are very pushy about it here. They almost treat it a mandatory. A part of me want to know everything is fine..but the other part thinks its a bit annoying them checking for every little thing wrong. Almost like they want to find something. So DH and I have decided to take the results with a grain of salt...they are often wrong anyway.

Justine, I was very worried about getting a bad OB so got a referall from my RE who got me into her own doctor. Thankfully shes really nice and listens to all my worries and actually does something about them. It makes a world of difference trusting your OB will take you seriously. From what you have said I would definately look around for someone else, your baby is far more important than some grumpy OB. Can you get a referral to a doctor that a friend or family member used and liked?

Christine, so you might be having a tall supermodel over there?? You are doing so well not finding out...I couldn't have handled the suspense. My gender scan is in about 2 weeks and DH and I were so impatient we tried to book a 4D scan in earlier...but they won't do them until after the anatomy scan. I guess thats fair, they don't want us seeing something wrong with the baby in clear 3D color screen I guess. Still..the waitings annoying. I can't buy anything until I know as I'm bored up to my ears with green and yellow! lol. I'm also a little nervous to buy too much yet anyway. I know 16 weeks is pretty safe...but you just never know. So I guess I'm now just waiting to pass the halfway mark of 20 weeks and then I'll go crazy.

In the meantime...we wait.

[BabySteps]

Alana, The cribs we got from Walmart were $120 each. The new ones we got from Baby Depot (part of Burlington Coat Factory) and they were reg $180 and then we got a 20% discount because we bought 3.

Now if I have the chore of buying bedding. I have seen some that I like but they are more expensive then the cribs!!!! It is crazy, the prices companies charge for baby stuff. Many of the bedding is more expensive then our King Size bedding!!

[Justine]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice on doctors. I see a regular OB at a group practice within a hospital. I did my homework and selected this due to it being smaller, more comfortable. At my IF clinic it was dehumanizing, but they ultimately got the job done and I could move on to something better. That's why I really wanted this experience to be better. I could deal with and accept a no personality doctor. It's the condescending, "it's just a regular pregnancy little lady" attitude that affects me. By luck, I am having an ultrasound done by a doctor who specializes in high-risk pregnancies at my next appointment. Believe me, I too want to feel this is an ordinary pregnancy, however I am 42 y/o have had a miscarriage in the past, and am carrying twins. Those are facts, I'm not a neurotic patient, that's what I feel like saying to them! Anyone in the Boston area with recommendation for an OB? Also Charms, I know due to your medical history and Shelley, due to your carrying triplets, you get to see a specialist. Should I be asking for that and if so, how?

[Justine]

Shelley,

Really like your crib. Did you have to request the discount or do they provide that when you buy more than one? I wonder if IKEA does that too?
I think we're going with their cribs as they got the highest rating in Baby Bargains book and are a great price: 150-ish.

[sarahelaine57]

Justine-I think it's interesting that you say that about not being neurotic because I feel like that is how I am being looked at, but I do think you have more to worry about than a "normal" pregnancy, yours is not normal just in the simple fact that you are preggo with twins! I hope your next visit goes better, and it doesn't hurt to ask for a high risk ob. And on the cribs...does IKEA have cribs similar to shelleys? I found one similar to that one at burlington coat factory, it's a store where you can get creat discounts on lots of stuff for those of you who have never heard of it before, but it was 399...DH was not to happy about my choice and he would be much happier to spend less. I just love the dark wood and the sleigh style. Oh I want to get going on the nursery but feel like we have time to get it done.

Shelley-I know what you mean about the bedding! it's crazy, but I remember someone mentioning somewhere here about how all you really need is a sheet, bumpers (and even that is up for debate anymore) and a sleeper blanket. But I know I will be buying a whole set, not so much for the baby but for me, lol! I found the cutest little girl set, so hopefully there's a little princess in there!

Alana-I felt a little pressured to do the tests too, but DH and I strongly feel it isn't necessary. I have a congenital anomoly involving my foot and if my mother had done one when she was preggo with me it probably would have come up, so I think I will take my chances.

Oh and I am eating like a horse! Yeah cannot seem to stop, and especially the carbs!!!

[designdiva32]

Originally Posted by Justine

Shelley,

Really like your crib. Did you have to request the discount or do they provide that when you buy more than one? I wonder if IKEA does that too?
I think we're going with their cribs as they got the highest rating in Baby Bargains book and are a great price: 150-ish.

Justine I have the Baby Bargains book too. I couldn't live without it now. I think I'll be getting an Ikea crib too as it scores the highest even though its one of the cheapest. It doesn't convert or anything, however DH and I had already decided we won't buy a convertible crib as knowing me and my endless desire to re-design everything, I'd just want to buy them a new bed when they are older anyway!

Sarah, this book Justine and I have suggests not using a bumper at all. Its quite a hazard by the sound of it, from the smothering factor to the ties etc. It seems they might be a bit dangerous. Then again if you do use one you could always buy one of those positioning things that keeps the baby in one place on their back. That could also solve the problem. Wow, there really is so much to figure out!

[charms]

Justine - my OB actually kicked me out and referred me because he couldnt give me the attention with the twins he thought i would need - he said 3 strikes and i was out, infertility, twins, bleeding episodes, and the kicker was when they put me on insulin (i was on orals for type II diabetes).....we i got 4 stikes (2 at the same time).
with this one, instead of going the route of the OB first my primary care referred me to the Perinatologist, and they never thought twice especially after loosing baby A.

Shelly - wonderful crib! that is an awesome price too!

we got the 3-in-1 crib, so we wouldnt have to buy any more furniture for this little one, and the dresser doubles as a changing table. woo hoo! this is the set we were originally going to get for the twins. i am trying to find a nice rocker that will match the color.
we ordered it all from Walmart and they deliver it to the store for free, we just have to pick it up there.

Alana - i hope that you find something that is reasonable in price!

Sarah - i am glad your appt went well!!! just a few more weeks - time will go by fast - it will be here and you'll look back with amazement!

[designdiva32]

Beautiful set Christine. Where abouts will you look for a rocker/glider? I know theres a Canadian company, Dutalier or something, that do good ones, but pretty pricey too. I wonder if just ordinary furniture stores rather than baby stores would sell them?

[BabySteps]

Justine, My RE suggested I see a specialist. I had to have my OB refer me to him because he was out of our insurance group. I am not sure if I would be seeing him if I was having twins. If your insurance allows you to see a specialist I would try to request to see one. The good thing is that fertility treatments have increased the amount of twin pregnancies so it is not such a rare thing anymore.

No Ikea does not cribs like the ones I got. I looked at their website but I could not see any dark wood ones or sleigh style. I got mine at Burlington Coat Factory (their baby section is called Baby Depot). I would always ask for the multiples discount, just to make sure you get it. Burlingtion has a discount for twins and triplets or more. I will definitely go back there.
Delta cribs have high ratings too.

I have been on the fence about buying a crib bedding set. I won't be using the bumper that comes with them. I will be using a breathable bumper which is more safe. I want to do something cute though. Does anyone know where you can buy cute items separately? I have found a few but they were not so cute....

Christine, I love the crib and furniture you have picked out!! We were looking at a crib that was very simular to yours. I just love the curves and the bottom drawer is a good use of space. I love the change table/dresser. Very beautiful and useful.

[charms]

Shelley, we were looking at regular cribs, but when the parents on both sides said they would buy the furniture, we thought it would be better to buy a 3in1 - so we dont have to fork out any money later

Alana, we have the babies r us store 2 miles from my house and they have some very nice rockers - a little pricey, but they are very nice - i figure i will keep looking on line and if it comes to the last straw get it at babies r us
maybe there is somewhere online that is a little less expensive that will ship to you in Canada.

[Justine]

Thanks for the feedback ladies.

Charms: great furniture, I'll have to check it out. I would like the changing area to be re-usable, such as a hutch, but haven't come across the right model, yet.

IKEA: they have a few very simple cribs, not fancy at all. I got a bit overwhelmed by the whole conversion concept so think we'll just get these next month or so. We are in the process of buying a home and our cash is tied up right now on the down payment, so just trying to keep life simple at this point. I love all the crib sheet sets, but have read you really only need a fitted sheet and cotton blanket, esp at beginning. The trick is in finding sheets sold individually and not in a crib set, with bumpers, etc. This Baby Bargains book IS great as a reference...although I haven't read too much beyond maternity clothing and cribs.

I'm looking into joining a Mothers of Multiples group in my area and really hope I can learn a lot from others there. I've heard they can provide great advice and also sell baby items to each other, such as double strollers, etc. Could be a good resource, I'll let you know.

[charms]

Justine - we purchased the Eddie Bauer Tandem Stoller with the attachable car seats.
although we lost the twins, we still have it and figure we will be able to use it next year or so after we have this one and try again for the next.
my clock is ticking and we really cant wait a year or two incase it takes a year or two to have the second

i love the stoller, it is fast and easy to breakdown and doesnt weigh too much. it cost about 199 but then we had to buy the car seats and for two it cost almost 200 - and then of course we went over board and bought additional bases for the other car - and they cost 150 - wow i never really added this up! because we bought one thing with each paycheck.

geez - sorry i am babbling over here today.