Car seats - I am in the do it early and get it done camp. We are lucky that we had it installed when I went into labor with DS, and I also agree that you need to have someone check it. Jess, aren't I right that most fire stations will check it for you to be sure it is installed correctly? We are putting ours in this weekend, to have it done, and for DS to get used to seeing another one in our car.
You have to be careful with fire stations (and police stations too for that matter). Sometimes firefighters get certified because they are made to by someone higher up and they don't really want to be. Sometimes a "helpful" firefighter will "check" a seat even if he's not certified and do more harm than good. That's not to say that there aren't good techs in both fire and police. You just have to be careful. Check that link I posted for a tech- Matt Lichty with CPD was one of my instructors, so I would definitely trust him. They also have periodic check events at Grace Methodist, and I think Matt is usually involved with those. I would be happy to get with you sometime soon and check it myself if you wanted to do that .
ETA for everyone: a good tech will check your seat as it is when you come in, then uninstall it to check stickers and such, then either show you how to install it, or watch you do it. They are NOT a "professional car seat installer service". They are teachers. You should be the last one to touch the seat when you leave, with full confidence that you could do it yourself when you need to.
carseats: Thanks for posting that carseat tech link. It was on my list today to find a place to get ours checked (once we install it - this weekend) so that's very timely! We are buying a new car, but we will have a second base in our current car anyway so we might as well install that one 'just in case'. It looks like there are a couple of places right by our house, I just need to call for hours.
Jess: I do have a question about carseats - can you explain the LATCH thing? I read that the safest place for a carseat is the center position but the cars we're looking at all seem to have LATCH on the outboard seats. Is it safer hooked to LATCH even though it's not in the center? I know I read this somewhere before but now I'm blanking and it's all I could think about when we looked at cars recently.
nursery, etc: After my doctor appt yesterday I got serious about the nursery and it's in pretty good shape now. Still some odds and ends to finish up, but that will be greatly aided by the rest of the furniture being delivered today (storage bins and a toy box) so hopefully by tomorrow night it will be finished except for decor. We've hung some things but the rest of the decor items are the adhesive variety; we stuck one piece up last night to test and it fell down by this morning so that's a work in progress! But obviously not necessary as things go. I finished up all the laundry and now we just need to assemble things like the swing, bouncer, pnp, etc and we'll be pretty good to go. I mean as good as we can be.
AFM: Still pg. Haha. I am really not ready (mentally) so I'm hoping to make it 2 more weeks at a minimum; that will be the day after my bday. I really expected to go late! And I know I still could, however, it's possible I lost my mucus plug this morning (?) so it seems as though we are moving in the wrong direction. I'm revising my plan for when to stop working and I have spent the morning crossing off things on my 'to do' list before I go out on leave. We're not hiring a temp, I'm just transitioning some of my larger projects so I'm working on doing that on an accelerated schedule. My assistant just gave her notice, which I'm psyched about, but I'm bummed I won't be here to hire a replacement - lame. One of my best friends is coming to visit in 2 weeks and I really don't want to have the baby before then or while she's here b/c it would just be too much - although she really wants that to happen. I could fill volumes w/ reasons I'm not ready yet! We have a breastfeeding class tonight and then we will be all done w/ our classes.
Hospital bags: What are you putting in yours? I know the obvious slippers or socks, change of clothes, nursing bra (?), toiletries, change of clothes for my husband - what's not obvious? Do I need to take a boppy? Our hospital suggested having 2 bags - a 'labor' bag and a post-labor bag. It sounded like a good idea when they suggested it but at the moment I'm having trouble thinking of what I would put in not one but 2 bags.
LauraHere is a list for the "hospital bag" that I got from one of the links on this site. I thought it was a pretty good list:
In the Small Labor Bag
Camera and extra batteries
IPOD/IPOD DoCK
Diversions (magazines, books, etc)
Candy
Health insurance information
Lip balm
Nightgown
Notebook/journal and pens
Pillows in colored pillow cases
Snacks and drinks (didnt need because the hospital provided good food)
Socks with grips on the feet (I stayed in my hospital gown in bed the entire time)
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Videocamera
Water bottles
In the Recovery Bag
Baby book
Dark cotton underwear
Toiletries
Hair brush
Maternity outfit to wear home
Maxi pads with wings (buy the THICKEST ones you can get your hands on because you will need the padding when sitting)
Nightgown
Nursing pads
Ponytail holders
In DH's Bag
Coins for phones and vending
Credit card
PJs
Change of clothes
Snacks
Toiletries
Writing supplies
For the Baby Bag
Baby cap
Baby wipes
Diapers
Going home outfit
Mittens or socks for his hands
Receiving blankets
Socks or booties
car seat/car seat cover for winter
Well, it looks like I am having an u/s tomorrow morning at 10am. So hubby planned this anniversary trip to the keys and we will be flying. It dawns on me the morning that I have placenta previa and can I fly with this? I called the OB/GYN. The nurse called me back and checked with the midwife. They want to do another u/s and go from there. From what I have found on the web, it's a no no to fly with this "condition." I really think it has moved - I haven't had any spotting or bleeding so pray for me, ladies. If it hasn't moved, I don't know if we'll be able to go.
I also have my glucose test and a regular appointment in the afternoon.
Aw Mindy, hugs! Really hoping that the previa has resolved itself and hoping your lack of spotting is a sign in that direction. I don't know anything about previa and what you would do differently being somewhere else as opposed to home at this time? I loved the Keys, so hope you get to go.
Jess: I do have a question about carseats - can you explain the LATCH thing? I read that the safest place for a carseat is the center position but the cars we're looking at all seem to have LATCH on the outboard seats. Is it safer hooked to LATCH even though it's not in the center? I know I read this somewhere before but now I'm blanking and it's all I could think about when we looked at cars recently.
Yeah, the LATCH thing can be kind of confusing. A good LATCH install is no safer than a good seatbelt install, it's just supposed to be easier (and it's not always). The center is statistically the safest seating location for anybody, but only marginally so. If you get a better install outboard, I wouldn't fret about it...DS is RF outboard because 1)he weighs over 30lbs and 2) I'm almost 7 months pregnant so it's not easy to hoist his big butt up and into the middle. I also get a better install there. It does irk me that parents are told both to use LATCH and put baby in center, but as you said, most cars only have LATCH anchors outboard. In MOST cars and MOST car seats, you are not allowed to "borrow" the innermost anchors from the 2 outboard positions to install with LATCH in the middle, either. They just aren't spaced correctly for that.
Another note: The "rule" is that the least protected occupant goes in the most protected position, so if you had 2 kids, 1 rear-facing and 1 forward, ideally, you put the older forward facer in the center because he is less protected by being forward-facing than the rear facing child. Again, that's if it works. Since infant seats usually take up more room than pretty much anything else, you might have to put it in the middle to puzzle with the front seats no matter who else is in the car.
nursery is painted and has curtains up now. We got the crib delivered yesterday but we haven't put it together yet. We still need to get a small table to go by the rocker and a bookcase. Then it just need to be decorated.
visitors Not very concerned since our friends and family live 2 states away. (we recently moved and haven't made too many friends here) My mom is coming in Dec to stay with us for 3 months (because we asked her to). Since this year we don't plan on going up to my IL's for Xmas, it will be just DH, my mom and me here, which is kinda nice.
car seat Just got delivered today. We still have time so we won't be installing the base before Dec.
akacharlotte Good to hear that you got some relief from the fluid draining
laura wow, how exciting!
Mindy3094 hope the placenta previa has moved and you'll be able to fly!
AFM Feeling pretty good, aside from lower back pains. Haven't heard about my GTT yet. (done last Monday) Hope it means I passed! This Friday we have a follow up to check on the baby's heart and we hope the heartbeat is normalizing. Then next Tuesday I have an OB app.
Great Car Seat info...I had the phone number ever since the last time I was pregnant to find someone in our area to check our seat. Too bad we didn't even get the thing yet. This was on our "To Do" list when my car conked out last night (DH's was already in the shop since last week...LAURA, you know I'm pissed since I just got through raving about my car in the thread you started. lol But it is 12 years old in its defense.)
AFM...glad we're talking about Hospital Bags since I need to be packing mine sooner than I thought possibly. Went to my usual OB appt. today and my BP was slightly higher than normal. This wouldn't typically be alarming except that I have had swollen hands, feet and ankles every day since Saturday. No protein in my urine but my OB said, "You better not go getting pre-eclamptic on me!" She also said in no uncertain terms I am on weekly visits from here on out. (I kinda knew that was coming since I am measuring 2 and a half weeks ahead and when she did a pelvic exam I am already fingertip dialated! ) She said she wants me to at least make 34 weeks which is Thanksgiving by their calculations. (Really it's the Sunday after Thanksgiving based on when I actually O'ed.) So I am on much more strict rest than before. Guess I'll be one finger typing from a horizontal position for the next few weeks.
__________________ At 24w 4d my little boy...became an angel 11/7/07. Rainbow baby makes a debut: c/s Dec. 15
[pre-e survivor de-lurking for PSA] pocahontas--I'm sure she did, but you OB covered what to look for as far as symptoms between appointments, right? And are you monitoring your BP at home?
"Know the symptoms, trust yourself"...it's the motto of The Pre-eclampsia Foundation. They have some great forums there with some very knowledgeable ladies if you need them.
I hope you get LOTS more baking time for that little man...
[/PSA]
__________________ M&D~3.19.05 * C~7.12.06 * G~1.6.08 Now on LJ
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so that's a work in progress! But obviously not necessary as things go. I finished up all the laundry and now we just need to assemble things like the swing, bouncer, pnp, etc and we'll be pretty good to go. I mean as good as we can be. 
This was on our "To Do" list when my car conked out last night (DH's was already in the shop since last week...LAURA, you know I'm pissed since I just got through raving about my car in the thread you started. lol 
But it is 12 years old in its defense.) 
) She said she wants me to at least make 34 weeks which is Thanksgiving by their calculations. (Really it's the Sunday after Thanksgiving based on when I actually O'ed.) So I am on much more strict rest than before. Guess I'll be one finger typing from a horizontal position for the next few weeks.
Rainbow baby makes a debut: c/s Dec. 15 
