March 26, 2010

Panic on the Bus

I’ve mentioned this before and I’ll mention it again. Public transit makes me feel ill. It’s really no place for a pregnant woman but as the saying goes, “You have to do what you’ve got to do.” And for now this is the mode of transportation I have to rely on. It’s a good thing we live in a big city with transit literally at our doorstep but my heightened sense of smell and greater need for my own space, simply can’t handle it some days!

This morning I was riding the bus and had a panic attack. I haven’t had one of those since taking a job that ended up being “hell on earth” with a boss who really was the devil (minus the Prada). It crept up on me so suddenly (the panic attack not the boss, although that’s a different story) that I was literally taken off guard. My heart began pounding, my stomach started doing flip flops and I began sweating. It was a packed bus and luckily I had a seat, otherwise I would have fainted. Panic attacks are so terrifying and when you’re trapped in a moving cramped vehicle they tend to feel life threatening (I realize they aren’t).

Luckily the bus ride wasn’t too long and I was able to regain control of myself. I’m unsure why this occurred but I feel better now. I am 24 weeks now, which is six months in pregnancy terms, and this means my twosome will be turning into a threesome sooner than later! Perhaps my unconscious is a little terrified of this fact? I’ll never know. What I do know is that I should start working on my breathing techniques because if today is any indication of how I handle anxiety, how will I ever handle the day I go into labour?

March 24, 2010

Convertible vs. Non Convertible

No I’m not talking about cars, although a new one is on the growing list of things to purchase in the next few months. What I’m referring to is a crib.

I’ve been starting to think about baby furniture. To be honest, the thought of putting a nursery together intimidates me. We purchased our first place and moved in this past October. While we have unpacked most things, we have allowed the future nursery to turn into a storage closet. There is so much to do in terms of cleaning, painting and organizing.

The crib is one of the main pieces of furniture we’ll need to purchase. It’s going to be where the baby sleeps and naps and will also be a big focal point in the room. So not only does it have to be safe, functional and comfortable, it also has to look nice. I’ve decided I like the look of the dark wood cribs. They look classic and will go with the rest of the furniture in our house. But deciding on the look is the easy part. There are so many other things to consider.

In doing my research, I’ve discovered the many different kinds of cribs available. What I’ve noticed is that my biggest decision will revolve around purchasing a convertible crib or a non convertible crib. So what’s the difference?

Convertible

A convertible crib can be adjusted to be used as a day bed, toddler bed or full sized bed depending on your child’s age and stage. These cribs promise to save you money down the road as you don’t need to purchase a new bed once your child grows out of his crib.

But there are other, less appealing things to consider:

• Additional hardware must be purchased to convert the crib (this can cost from $100 to $200).
• The crib tends to be pricier than standard ones.
• The next baby will need his or her own crib, costing more money.
• They tend to be higher than typical toddler beds making it harder for the child to get in and out of.

 Non Convertible

Non convertible cribs are basically what you see is what you get. They look just as nice as the convertible cribs yet tend to be a bit cheaper. They won’t convert to a bed afterwards but they can be passed down to the next baby.

There’s a lot to think about. There are also safety regulations to consider, which to me, is the most important part of the search.  Here is a link to a great resource I found on the Government of Canada website. 

March 22, 2010

It’s becoming a Hairy Situation!

My husband isn’t afraid to point out my hairy stomach. Since becoming pregnant I’ve noticed hair growing on my growing belly (among other places on my body). I’m hoping this will just go away once the baby comes, but what if it doesn’t?  Do I wax it? Or just leave it be and hope it doesn’t get any worse?

I keep telling myself that it’s just hair. To be honest, it’s more like fuzz; please don’t picture a grizzly bear!  At least the stretch marks haven’t appeared...yet. And the dark line that runs down many pregnant women’s bellies, the linea nigra, hasn’t yet appeared either. I’m crossing my fingers that I’m getting away with all of the skin changes but then again I still notice changes that I personally consider equally unappealing.

Besides the hairy stomach, red dots are sprouting up all over my body. While examining my belly tonight, I noticed four red dots lined up in a row and my face has been breaking out in them too. I looked up what these dots (which look like small red pen marks) could mean. Apparently they’re burst blood vessels. When they appear on the face it could mean I’ve been throwing up too much (which by the way has subsided but unfortunately still occurs now and then).  Other than the red dots, new moles have been popping up everywhere; on my back, my stomach, my legs, and my face. Most of them look like freckles but it’s so interesting to see how these pregnancy hormones have affected my skin.

My husband may point out my hairy stomach right now, but I like to think he’s lucky otherwise. At least the hormones haven’t been causing unnecessary mood swings! Maybe I’m speaking too soon. I’m only half way!

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