Ladies lounge (women only)

[Kitty Tantrum]

I went right over to the health department with both of my pregnancies and signed up for WIC. Word on the street is they finally got rid of vouchers and give cards to get your pregnancy friendly foods. Even if we don't eat it all, someone always used the groceries.

It's tempting with inflation doing how it do. Plus I've heard the food is better now than it used to be. But after being on WIC for previous pregnancies/children, I felt like what we got was not worth how invasive they are. They wanted us in for appointments all the time so they could stab us and check our iron levels.

I think about how much money I could make signing up for almost anything else in the world that involves wrangling angry children in ugly office buildings for a few hours every month with a nigh-inevitable risk of getting stabbed... and just getting some cheese/cereal/peanut butter for that gig and all it entails seems like a really bad deal.

 

[PineTreeFarmer]

It's tempting with inflation doing how it do. Plus I've heard the food is better now than it used to be. But after being on WIC for previous pregnancies/children, I felt like what we got was not worth how invasive they are. They wanted us in for appointments all the time so they could stab us and check our iron levels.

I think about how much money I could make signing up for almost anything else in the world that involves wrangling angry children in ugly office buildings for a few hours every month with a nigh-inevitable risk of getting stabbed... and just getting some cheese/cereal/peanut butter for that gig and all it entails seems like a really bad deal.

lol our office wasn't like that!! I even had a lactation consultant!!

 

[Kitty Tantrum]

lol our office wasn't like that!! I even had a lactation consultant!!

I might consider it if we lived elsewhere. Where I live, most of the families in the waiting rooms of various government welfare offices are Mexicans who speak little if any English. Which means most of the people who work there are Spanish-speaking as well.

I generally have no problem with these folks. But they often seem to have a problem with me because I "don't look like someone who is supposed to be on welfare." I look privileged. People routinely assume the exact opposite of most of my upbringing and life experience. To them it is obvious: I don't belong there.

And everything about the demographic dynamic in the first place lends to the entire system being more invasive, more scrutinizing, and making everyone jump through more hoops.

I could have a materially easier life if I were more willing to endure these things (we hypothetically qualify for several forms of assistance). I'm not willing.

 

[PineTreeFarmer]

I might consider it if we lived elsewhere. Where I live, most of the families in the waiting rooms of various government welfare offices are Mexicans who speak little if any English. Which means most of the people who work there are Spanish-speaking as well.

I generally have no problem with these folks. But they often seem to have a problem with me because I "don't look like someone who is supposed to be on welfare." I look privileged. People routinely assume the exact opposite of most of my upbringing and life experience. To them it is obvious: I don't belong there.

And everything about the demographic dynamic in the first place lends to the entire system being more invasive, more scrutinizing, and making everyone jump through more hoops.

I could have a materially easier life if I were more willing to endure these things (we hypothetically qualify for several forms of assistance). I'm not willing.

When I hit that wall I asked to come when there are lessons in Spanish and English to get your certification. <3

 

[Atlas Shrugged]

It's too early to speculate to anyone IRL, but I might be pregnant!

I can't rule out evaporation lines because the test strips are a cheap brand I've never used, but I should know for sure one way or another within a few days.

Well congratulations!!! Ill be positive. You are!

 

[EntWife]

It's too early to speculate to anyone IRL, but I might be pregnant!

I can't rule out evaporation lines because the test strips are a cheap brand I've never used, but I should know for sure one way or another within a few days.

Congratulations!!

 

[Kitty Tantrum]

Well, I hate to disappoint, but I'm getting the very strong impression that this IS actually just a bad batch of tests. Second line should be more than barely there on the third day, if it were detecting increasing levels of hCG. I suppose it could also be evidence of a very early pregnancy that wasn't viable, but I'm leaning toward evaporation lines being real.

I won't be too torn up if I'm not pregnant this time around. I've been kind of hoping to get down to a good weight first, and I still have 10-15 lbs to go.

Still like a mini emotional roller coaster though!!

 

[Kitty Tantrum]

@TexasJenn FWIW I'm also rooting for you to get knocked up first!

(Not that third babies are any less special or miraculous than first babies... but the experience of becoming an expectant mother for the first time is a very particular and profound sort of joy, and I've told God that if it is somehow a matter of "taking turns," I don't mind being in the back of the line. )

 

[TexasJenn]

Thank you! You're very kind and that really means a lot to me.

It hasn't happened yet, but we're trying. I totally relate on the emotional roller coaster. But I'm adjusting and doing a better job of accepting whatever God wills.

 

[Ah_Tibor]

Well, I hate to disappoint, but I'm getting the very strong impression that this IS actually just a bad batch of tests. Second line should be more than barely there on the third day, if it were detecting increasing levels of hCG. I suppose it could also be evidence of a very early pregnancy that wasn't viable, but I'm leaning toward evaporation lines being real.

Well, it doesn't hurt to keep trying. (Meant in a non-creepy way.)

I had very faint lines for my positives. We got pregnant about a month after trying, so I was surprised and thought they might be "false" positives, but apparently false negatives are more common and lines typically mean something is up (source: my doctor).

Also yeah nobody cares about second or third babies lol, first babies are like omg that's AMAZING CONGRATTUULLAATIONS and the second one is like... oh that's nice (not that people *don't* care at all, it's just different)

 

[PineTreeFarmer]

I just had phantom implantation bleeding for someone. <3

 

[Kitty Tantrum]

Well, now I've got something weird going on. I started spotting around the time I would have been ovulating, and it's going on about a week now. Very unusual for me. Could just be that it has taken this long for my body to adjust hormonally after having my IUD removed (year and a half ago, or something like that), I guess. Could be vaccine shedding? Who knows.

I know I've got it easy, it's really light, I'm not bleeding like a stuck pig... but still. Annoying and lame, whatever the case. *pout*

 

[EntWife]

Well, now I've got something weird going on. I started spotting around the time I would have been ovulating, and it's going on about a week now. Very unusual for me. Could just be that it has taken this long for my body to adjust hormonally after having my IUD removed (year and a half ago, or something like that), I guess. Could be vaccine shedding? Who knows.

I know I've got it easy, it's really light, I'm not bleeding like a stuck pig... but still. Annoying and lame, whatever the case. *pout*

You can have spotting at ovulation, but to have it for a week sounds strange. Have you asked your doctor about it?

 

[Kitty Tantrum]

Have you asked your doctor about it?

Nah, I stay away from those types unless things start looking pretty dire.

If it continues beyond the length of a normal cycle, I guess I might have to start looking for a new doctor. Aside from having my toe checked out when I thought I might have broken it, I haven't been in for anything since the doctor I liked retired.

 

[Ah_Tibor]

Could be vaccine shedding? Who knows.

I had an early period and thought it might be shedding, but got pregnant right after and everything is good right now.

My dad is really paranoid about shedding because he listens to Alex Jones on freaking shortwave radio (CHICOMMMS) but all vaccines shed, so I am not going to worry about it or treat people differently.

I get really bad headaches after church lately though (almost to the migraine level, but without the light sensitivity or nausea) and I know the majority of people are boosted, so I wonder about it too.

Hope everything works out. <3

 

[PineTreeFarmer]

Well, now I've got something weird going on. I started spotting around the time I would have been ovulating, and it's going on about a week now. Very unusual for me. Could just be that it has taken this long for my body to adjust hormonally after having my IUD removed (year and a half ago, or something like that), I guess. Could be vaccine shedding? Who knows.

I know I've got it easy, it's really light, I'm not bleeding like a stuck pig... but still. Annoying and lame, whatever the case. *pout*

I would still get it checked out.

 

[Kitty Tantrum]

Not that my husband and I would ever learn something like this the hilariously awkward way... but did you ladies know that common OTC heartburn medications can cause erectile dysfunction?

They can.

 

[PineTreeFarmer]

Please say a prayer for my little family, ladies. I feel like we are in for a big lifestyle change in the next few weeks. I think it could be a really wonderful opportunity to provide healthy, happy activity for my children that has been lacking, and enable me to engage with other people my own age. If it's God's will.

 

[PineTreeFarmer]

Please say a prayer for my little family, ladies. I feel like we are in for a big lifestyle change in the next few weeks. I think it could be a really wonderful opportunity to provide healthy, happy activity for my children that has been lacking, and enable me to engage with other people my own age. If it's God's will.

Thank you so much for your prayers and thoughts! I have gotten through so many steps with my children to get them to just, do what they need to do, in explaining to them the blessings we already have and what structure looks like as we get older.

 

[Ah_Tibor]

I realized recently that I'm really bad at processing emotions (which is a familial trait, unfortunately); having something from 15 years ago bubble up.

I also ran into a friend I hadn't seen awhile. She messaged me later that we should hang out. I like her. I would like to catch up. I never did, for no reason at all.

So I realized I'm a bad friend, too.