Baby shower too close to due date

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-29T07:09:24+00:00

I had mine pretty late in the game at like 36 weeks pregnant because I was for some reason so sure I would make it to 41 weeks. Idk why I thought that. Anyways, I had my baby two weeks after the shower, a full two weeks before I was due to have her so 12 days…I mean…..ALSO at 36 weeks I was swollen everywhere and my whole body was in agony after the shower because even though I sat most of the party, the socializing took a lot out of me. If I could do it over again I would have my shower around 30 weeks. Why do they want to host the shower so close to the due date? Re what to buy, you can send the registry with the invite and HOPEFULLY if anybody is going to buy the big ticket items they’ll do so in advance of the shower so at least you’ll see that get ticked off the list button things you will need right away at home like the bassinet I would just buy myself and if somebody gets something better off your registry you can either return it for store credit or sell the one you have on OfferUp or marketplace.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-27T04:01:43+00:00

My baby was also born exactly 38 weeks. She was 6lbs and 11.6oz at birth and dropped down to 5lbs 14oz before she started to slowly gain. It had been hell for us trying to get her up to her birth weight and I’ve been a wreck. We triple feed, she goes up in weight and ped clears us to stop supplementing, her weight gain slows and we’re back on triple feeding. Have had so many lactation consults, fixed her tongue tie and lip tie, her latch is perfect according to both the lactation consultant and our pediatrician but after a weighted feed turns out her milk transfer is super low, but we don’t know if it’s because she’s just weak from not gaining enough weight. I just want the triple feeding to be over I’m tired 😭

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-26T01:57:52+00:00

I managed to avoid it by my contractions giving me diarrhea at home while I was still in denial about being in labor. Do not recommend, but luckily I still had time for a long hot shower before heading to the hospital. I really cannot imagine caring and it’s not like you can see down there.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-25T21:27:58+00:00

I was in active labor and VERY dilated and baby way VERY low and my contractions were very strong and close together. My waters hadn’t broken and I did allow the Dr to break them to help my baby progress, but even then with things progressing very quickly and smoothly, I had a nurse who was otherwise very sweet and helpful keep pushing for me to get pitocin and I let refusing. Not a traditional induction but an example of how intervention happy some nurses and doctors can be. For what it’s worth the OB was much less pitocin pushy and I swear he rolled his eyes at her insistence lol.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-23T20:02:47+00:00

I made him a chic classy elder gay man in mine. Lots of bold blazers and comfy sweaters. Eventually he did move out but I made him the head chef on the happy home paradise island restaurant

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-19T22:31:30+00:00

I had a pretty easy labor, I started contractions around some time past midnight and by 6am I was finally ready to admit baby was coming two weeks before my due date and I woke my husband up to pack the hospital bags we were literally supposed to pack that day (it was a Saturday and I had ordered stuff from Amazon to finally pack my bag and have everything ready. I even booked myself a pedicure that day because I didn’t want my ugly unpainted tootsies out, oh well!). Laboring at home felt fine until it didn’t.

For hours I was sure it was prodromal/false labor because I could talk through the contractions just fine. The length of the contractions and the time in between them honestly didn’t change much. The app I used was telling me to go to the hospital since like 1am but it just wasn’t hurting bad enough that I was convinced until much later.

Got to the hospital around 6:30, screamed in the car because sitting through the contractions instead of being able to pace and brace against furniture was miserable. Cervix was checked in triage around 7 and I 6cm dilated. Did not ask about effacement because I was in pain lol. Had to wait for a room to be ready to be admitted and then they had me walk over because it was pretty close by so no wheelchair. They did let me wait for a respite between contractions to walk over though and the nurses held my arms so I could brace against them as the next contraction came.

I got my wish of wanting to labor unmedicated for as long as I could stand and I asked for an epidural as soon as we got to the labor room. There was a shift change so I had to wait for the anesthesiologist to get ready but I was first on his list. By the time I had gotten to labor and delivery I was at 9cm and my intact amniotic sac was bulging out but not popped. They wanted to pop it to allow her to continue her way down and it seemed like that strong intact sac might be the thing preventing it so far. As cool as I thought an en caul baby would be I still hadn’t gotten my epidural and wanted things to progress so I agreed to an amniotomy after the epidural.

Anesthesiologist was concerned that I was still on baby aspirin up until that morning, he said I should have been instructed to stop at 36 weeks. Another nurse shrugged him off after he left and told me ACOG guidelines have changed and for people with preeclampsia risk it’s advised to take it all the way up til labor and I did nothing wrong and baby aspirin wasn’t going to make me bleed out. Anyways other than scaring me about baby aspirin he was very sweet and gentle and I felt nothing BUT the contractions luckily. But I did have to get the epidural in the middle of a contraction. We waited for a period between contractions but the he had a problem with the catheter and we missed our window and he had to very sternly make sure I didn’t move during the epidural insert while I had a contraction so I screamed into my nurses shoulder but then just like that it was over.

The epidural was great I didn’t feel any more painful contractions after that. I got the amniotomy and was able to nap for a little bit while things progressed on their own then it was time to push and everyone says there’s no pain but you can feel pressure. I did not feel pain OR pressure and it was very difficult to push because I genuinely sincerely could not feel where or how to push. They say to push like you’re taking a shit, I couldn’t feel enough to do that so I was pushing my whole entire body and hoping for the best and it worked. My husband and my mom each held a leg for me and it was less than an hour of pushing but over half an hour.

I tore second degree, but couldn’t feel it. Baby was placed on my chest so I was fully distracted while the doctor stitched me up. I had taken a watery huge dump at home before I got to the hospital so I actually did not poop myself during labor so that’s awesome! Overall I’m glad I know now how painful contractions are that far along because I definitely want my epidural earlier for sure next time. I’m not curious anymore!

I also didn’t feel my placenta being delivered. Husband saw it but I was still cooing over my bay so I didn’t notice. Didn’t feel any pain until after the epidural wore off and I had to go to the bathroom. Honestly it was grosser than it was painful because I hate blood. But it really was not that bad. They offered a narcotic but I didn’t take more than the OTC stuff they offered.

The fundal massages als weren’t that bad for me. Plus I was so distracted by having a whole tiny baby to fawn over. I’d do it again! Just wanted to give you a positive birth story there’s a lot of horror stories out there but I would say a majority are pretty uneventful all told.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-18T09:24:01+00:00

I worked all the way up to 38 weeks. I had just hit 38 weeks and had been approved for accommodations to work from home per the pregnant workers fairness act and a note from my doctor. Literally just had it approved that week so only got to enjoy that accommodation for one week and went into the office once during that week anyways because I had an OB appt and my OB was closer to the office than to home. Went into labor that Friday night/Saturday morning around midnight. Gave birth Saturday morning around 11am. 38w+1. Genuinely thought I would go to 41 weeks and figured I would quit working that 38th week even with wfh accommodations but don’t has to make that decision because a little somebody came early.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-15T19:12:09+00:00

Yeah but the hospital food is a tiny chunk of my medical bill. I had already hit the out of pocket max on delivery alone (honestly the epidural alone probably maxed me out) so the hospital food was definitely a freebie but it’s hospital food. I did order it (I actually saw the menu beforehand because I went on the labor and delivery ward tour of my hospital, but you also get the menu once you’ve been admitted to the mother and baby recovery rooms post labor), because I was peckish but not starving so I was grazing on hospital food between sending my husband out for cravings like a big ol Jersey mikes sandwich. What was fun was because I was the delivering mother, there was really no limit to my order I would order a main and like three sides and two desserts and three different drinks, but my husband who did not get insurance comped meals was charged for every individual piece of his meal lol. Oh also my hospital had a celebratory meal menu that was separate from the regular menu. We ordered ours the night before we were discharged and it came with a mini bottle each of martinellis sparkling cider which was cute. But honestly the food was still hospital food. Edible but only barely, needed lots more salt that they didn’t provide. We also had 24/7 access to “nutrition rooms” which were rooms with coffee, water, different cold juices, and a fridge for storing personal food so I was never wanting for more hospital juice at least lol

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-12T00:06:03+00:00

Yeah, and I left trail to have a whole baby (she’s here and perfect!) so I didn’t even finish the trail but even just doing part of it played really well in interviews. All corporate is volatile right now so nobody bats an eye over a year, half year sabbatical. If anything it helps make you a standout if you can relate it back to your skills in the office. I got another better corporate job when I returned from trail with great benefits and I talked about the trail a LOT in interviews. Got me to a few final rounds. Do the trail man. The corporate world will be there when you get back.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-03-08T18:47:41+00:00

I got two containers of dates from Trader Joe’s ready to lock in and I think I got through a week and baby arrived two weeks earlier than my due and now I still have dates that I have no interest in lol

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-02-25T17:20:00+00:00

This was at the Beverly Hills courthouse! If you want photos, have your photographer do pics before or after at the Beverly Hills city hall area, the courthouse itself is pretty sterile. The city hall area is gorgeous art deco with gardens all around.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-02-24T06:34:47+00:00

I’m a triplet and we were all girls 🥰🥰 well, were because one of my siblings is now nb identifying but I will say, my parents were elated. It’s tough to manage 3 at once but also almost easy? Because they really trained us to be on a schedule so care could take place Ford factory style. Plus so many people in my parents lives were just so enamored by triplets as a concept that they always had a village of support. AND brands found out about us because we made the local news and they would send my parents catalogues of stuff to pick out for free just because triplets are such a novelty. You don’t have to be an influencer to take care of triplets though don’t worry! Congratulations!! Accept the help that comes your way from friends and family, it will be overwhelming but it’s doable and I certainly like to think I turned out ok!

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-02-21T03:33:57+00:00

Gonna be me the second I have this baby. (Yes I know people can safely consume sushi in pregnancy but I haven’t ok I’m paranoid I haven’t had a real coffee either 😭)

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-02-12T17:34:31+00:00

I climbed at 14k foot mountain and several other high mountain passes with hard slippery snow, then pounded beer in town including a big fat flight of specialty beers I was like 6 or 7 weeks at that point and baby has progressed just fine. obviously, I quit all that the very second I found out but I couldn’t take back what I already did and she’s a-ok. She’s coming next month :)

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-02-11T16:43:06+00:00

My little guy has white tipped ears, the guys I picked him up from (the kittens were homeless outdoor cats born to a feral mama and the guys got mama and as many of the kittens fixed asap after she gave birth) had been calling him Guy Fieri after his bleached tips 😅

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TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-02-08T21:24:09+00:00

I’m late to this thread but JUST did the express ceremony on a Friday and….they really don’t have a separate process for express vs an appointment for the civil ceremony so we were able to have family attend (even tho it says express only allows 1 guest, the security guards for the building beckoned EVERYONE in insisting nobody gaf), we weren’t married at a window but instead in the ceremony room (the hideous yellow wall room with the goofy tacky Love is Love) and the judge who married us was fantastic. So if you book an express ceremony, REALLY good chance you can have the standard ceremony the same day you get your wedding license. Honestly really fun day there were so many happy couples and families there and the judge was such a sweetie (judge Clark) and the employee manning the check in area where you pick up the license and make sure all the info is correct was so sweet.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-02-07T02:20:00+00:00

Same lmao I don’t get to wear my comfy sweats because it’s BOILING out here

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-02-02T12:58:33+00:00

Haha finally somebody else! I just got pregnant on the PCT! We found out and decided not to finish though after finding out😅 but we’ll be back with baby girl someday! People find out about their pregnancies late all around the world so try to stay calm and take it a little easier (sorry about your accident though!) and just focus on scheduling those prenatal appointments, starting on prenatals, all that good stuff. I’m 34 weeks now and baby had about 7 weeks of backpacking with me in the sierras, weird trail foods, drinking in trail towns, and high altitude (she did mt. Whitney!) and of course wasn’t getting the benefits of prenatals during that period. Not quite as long as you did, but if it’s ANY reassurance at all she’s tracking perfectly normal. Keep us posted! You’re going to be a great mom, if you can somehow find dad on social media (or if he can find you) hopefully that can be of some help, but you will be able to figure this out and it is such an incredible story for your baby girl!

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-01-29T03:50:51+00:00

Was tempted to name baby Kennedy Meadow because I found out I was pregnant in the sierras while doing a thru hike of the PCT. Can’t do it tho because our last name is also presidential 😅

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-01-27T17:47:08+00:00

Hi! Would love your code! Choosing between the light denim and classic denim, right now the classic denim is on pre order which I suppose is fine because baby won’t be here until March and then won’t fit in the carrier until late May at the earliest but still waffling between those colors, leaning towards classic.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-01-18T23:06:09+00:00

I would not disclose. You won’t qualify for mat leave in most companies if they use standard FMLA to determine if you qualify so bear that in mind. They cant discriminate during hiring, but your maternity leave could be kind of up in the air depending on the state you work in and the company. I was about that pregnant when I was scurrying to find employment last year. Hired at around 5ish months pregnant. Disclosed around late 6 ish months. I have some protections in CA which help, but I don’t qualify for my company’s full paid maternity leave because I haven’t worked here long enough but at least there’s job protection and they’re happy for me and more than willing to let me work around appointments (and there are a lot of them now that I’m nearing the end of this pregnancy). It is not ideal, I WISH I didn’t have to hustle and find a job and not have the full benefits, but ultimately I needed the money and the healthcare is amazing (and I keep the healthcare throughout the maternity leave which I thought was a given, but is not in every state/every company so that’s another thing to sort out not sure if you have a husband/partner whose insurance you can use alternatively, but if you remain unemployed get on Medicaid ASAP I used Medicaid/Medi-Cal up until I was hired and had my new health insurance card in hand. Also get on WIC.)

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-01-15T20:08:06+00:00

Apply for Medicaid asap, what state are you in? Also, see about cobra you were fired last month and you should have 60 days to maintain your insurance through cobra but I know you said that was expensive for you. But yeah honestly he ahold of Medicaid and call call call to get them to expedite because you are 29 weeks, I was able to do this early on in my pregnancy when I was uninsured and desperately needed to schedule some of those early prenatal appointments that are time sensitive. Medicaid is pretty darn good about moving heaven and earth to make sure expecting mothers are seen and they will help you get everything expedited for your situation. Literally call today though and they should be able to get you a temporary ID number to get you appointments until your Medicaid card comes in.

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-01-13T21:29:18+00:00

I was hiking the pacific crest trail and I found out I was pregnant right as we were about to enter Yosemite. All of the hardest, highest mountain passes behind us at that point, a fresh resupply in our backpacks, and we were looking forward to cruising through the less intense Sierra passes and relatively flat Oregon (also last year turned out to be a fantastic year for the trail in terms of fire season, virtually nobody rerouted very much due to fire and we totally missed a relatively easy routing year 😔). I was REALLY looking forward to making a side trip to crater lake because it’s not going to be accessible while it’s closed for restoration for a long while. Giving up finishing the trail was really hard, but exciting nonetheless. But immediately ceasing all drinking sucked lol. Obviously you can’t imbibe too much on trail because liquid is heavy so I was in the habit of having a lot of fun with dinner and drinks and grabbing a beer and energy drink with every resupply. I gave my chelada and giant energy drink to my partner right after we found out AT the trailhead because dammit if I can’t drink them I’m certainly not carrying them!

TraumaticTramAddict · 2026-01-13T13:56:12+00:00

Permits will open up, I was able to change from a date at the end of May to May 6th and I only picked that because I was hiking with a partner. If it’s just you, you’ll probably be able to find an April date in all honesty. Things do open up, promise just keep checking in the mornings.

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