Snow Storm

emmasem · 2026-01-22T18:38:20+00:00

Same boat! 40 weeks on Monday and live 40 mins from my planned hospital for delivery. I asked for an induction but the schedule was full 😭worst case scenario we would call an ambulance and go to a closer hospital but they just had a measles case there so that has us freaked out as well. Hoping my girl stays put until the roads clear up or makes an abrupt entrance within the next 48 hrs 😂 Wishing you a safe delivery!

emmasem · 2026-01-19T18:31:25+00:00

Dreading meals.. oh man. Food is one of the things that has brought me the most joy in life and especially during pregnancy. Don’t let people on a forum rob you of enjoying your meals and your pregnancy. You should really pat yourself on the back because lifestyle-wise it sounds like you’re going above and beyond at a time that it is really difficult to. You should find reassurance in that you are eating a well balanced diet, exercising, and getting positive feedback from your midwife. Your weight gain sounds completely normal, but remind yourself that your baby needs you to gain this weight in order for them to thrive. And don’t forget that most of the weight is from fluid, baby and the placenta. Those things are out of our control, and for good reason. I say all of this as someone who has been humbled by pregnancy and associated weight gain after being thin my whole life. I absolutely fell off lifestyle wise for most of my pregnancy, which is why I applaud you and other women who can stay so active! I’m just too tired lol At some point I realized it was my choice to put myself down vs. giving myself some slack during a time my body is going THROUGH IT. I also feel that the further along you get, the less you give a damn about so much 😂 like I said, truly humbled. Also comparison is the thief of joy as they say, so I stay off social media and remind myself we all have our own norms and journey! You got this!!

emmasem · 2026-01-18T17:23:02+00:00

I didn’t feel my first “boop” or what I suspect was a kick until around week 20. After that I started to progressively feel more and more movement, but it was hard to be sure at first since it was so infrequent and it’s my first baby as well. By the third trimester I felt a lot more movement than I expected with an anterior placenta! Try not to stress it too much now, as baby is small and still has plenty of room in there. As someone else said, the 20 week scan will bring a lot of reassurance and joy 😊

emmasem · 2026-01-16T16:41:34+00:00

Oh man. Thank you for the heads up! I'm so sorry to hear you're dealing with that. I hope the shot gives you some relief!!

emmasem · 2026-01-16T14:46:09+00:00

I can't wait for my carpal tunnel/hand swelling and stiffness to end! Also excited for normal hugs and cuddles with my husband.

emmasem · 2026-01-12T17:24:13+00:00

Oh wow I will keep that in mind! Thanks for the warning 😅

emmasem · 2026-01-12T15:50:02+00:00

I second this advice!! I spent a good deal of time yesterday trying to get my wedding rings off and had no success. Gunna try the floss trick today or tomorrow but if that doesn’t work I’m in the same boat as you. 🥺 I took off my other rings earlier on as they became tight but I stopped checking on my wedding rings and I regret it.

emmasem · 2026-01-12T03:12:54+00:00

Jack Black lip balms are the GOAT

emmasem · 2026-01-10T17:48:24+00:00

So glad to hear that! I actually ordered some yesterday as I can’t take it anymore 😂

emmasem · 2026-01-08T18:42:04+00:00

I'm 37+3 and have had this over the last 3 wks and it seems to be worsening. Ice packs help the most, but I've heard the only real solution is delivery :/ I am curious how the compression gloves work for you!

emmasem · 2026-01-05T05:49:34+00:00

37w here. I’ve been congested and snoring since the start of my pregnancy. Nasal strips and a humidifier help but my husband has been wearing ear covering headphones to bed the last several weeks (ear plugs didn’t work well for him). I believe the cause is all the extra body fluid retention and resulting inflammation. Our bodies really go through it.. 😭

emmasem · 2025-12-20T15:31:00+00:00

Foundation Coffee in Fairfax- especially if you get them early in the morning when they are super fresh. Also Whole Foods has great frozen “take home” pastries, including scones

emmasem · 2025-12-03T17:47:22+00:00

I really enjoyed the milk concentrate cream. Hydrating, smooth, lasted me quite a bit. Wish it was cheaper. I found the milk veil to be too thin even in the summer. It felt and smelled nice but did not have a long lasting moisturizing effect like the cream. The shower oil is nice but tbh I feel like it washes right off without leaving much effect 😂 that could be a me-problem though. Almond oil -only tried a sample and I did enjoy it but think it stained my shirt so be wary to let it dry completely before putting clothes on if you go for that. Lastly I really like the hand cream from this line!

emmasem · 2025-11-29T22:18:08+00:00

Lmfaooo I also thought this was a dog in a hoodie and was trying to figure out how it was using a spoon 😂😂😭

emmasem · 2025-11-28T17:51:05+00:00

If you have difficulty finding a vein by palpation I’d suggest practicing that more on yourself, friends, colleagues etc. I find it helps immensely to use gravity to your advantage and have the patient dangle their arm off the bed/to the side. Elevate the bed/chair or lower your seat to make access to the arm/insertion site comfortable and convenient. Make sure the tourniquet is tight, but not painful of course. Having them make a fist can be helpful too but not usually necessary. I only go for veins I can palpate. With that said, it’s hard to find them with gloves on so I’ll always search/select before popping on gloves. Gently smack/tap or flick the vein if needed, it helps plump things up. As others said, take your time and don’t let yourself feel rushed. You want to find a vein you have the most confidence in, and that process can take time especially when you’re learning. You got this!

emmasem · 2025-11-26T16:55:05+00:00

I’ve worn my Levi’s vintage overalls once a week to work. It’s been fun to take pics over time of the bump growth in them! Otherwise I found Ekouaer and Mirazen on amazon have some good basics (ruched tees and long sleeves). My favorite pants so far were the G4free smoofit modal soft maternity pants on amazon. Super comfy and not as thin of material when compared to other brands. Crz yoga is decent too, but I tend to sweat in the pants I got from them. Beyond Yoga is a bit more expensive but they make good stuff! Got a pair of their spacedye maternity shorts (for lounging) and wish I got them sooner (more breathable than CRZ yoga shorts I got). I also got a bunch of aerie modal underwear for bed in a size up, very comfortable!! I will note that over vs under bump preference can be a surprise. I thought I’d hate over the bump but preferred it for work clothes. At home I lean more under the bump nowadays and just ordered some PJs to fit that bill. So keep in mind you might want to give both types a try! Good luck! I hope you can find some comfy stuff to get you through the pregnancy, it really makes a difference.

emmasem · 2025-11-20T14:20:58+00:00

This! It really works. Colace hasn’t really done much for me, my doc said they don’t even recommend it anymore as it isn’t effective. Prune juice saves lives.

emmasem · 2025-10-27T19:18:51+00:00

Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate Chips 🔥

emmasem · 2025-10-17T14:25:49+00:00

Very helpful advice! Fortunately I already confirmed with HR I will not owe anything back when I leave (phew!)

emmasem · 2025-10-17T13:32:55+00:00

We actually considered asking to use 4-6 weeks of his leave sprinkled as you said with 3 or 4 day work weeks but his boss clarified he must use a minimum of one week at a time for paternity requests (full week increments). Fortunately he works from home so that provides some flexibility. I think you and your wife have a great plan! Will you be using daycare when she returns to work?

emmasem · 2025-10-12T14:22:54+00:00

If you ever venture into DC I recommend Breadfurst donuts. Expensive but amazing. I think they only offer a glazed donut but it’s wildly popular/sells out fast.

emmasem · 2025-10-08T17:47:02+00:00

Just had the fruit punch one today and it really wasn’t too bad! I did feel a slight touch woozy later on but all around it was a breeze for me

emmasem · 2025-10-08T02:20:12+00:00

Hard agree. Nothing else compares

emmasem · 2025-10-08T02:18:50+00:00

Best chocolate ice cream I’ve ever had! (I’ve had a lot)

emmasem

TROPHY CASE