The state of the world certainly adds an all new dimension to this pregnancy. Australia has been slow off the mark when it comes to enforcing isolation, but things are getting more real now. Not much has changed for my family, as I already work from home and DH has been home on disability since [name_u]January[/name_u] - a blessing in disguise now that it’s all hitting the fan. [name_m]Bruce[/name_m] is living his best 2-year-old life.
All things considered, all is well. [name_f]My[/name_f] main anxiety is over what the situation might be like when it comes to delivery. But as we’re still a few months away, I’m trying not to think too much about it. You’re right - it’s not helpful! [name_f]Thankful[/name_f] that the entire family is happy and healthy.
Sending good vibes to all the mamas and mamas-to-be!
@hollyrow - I’m glad [name_m]Bruce[/name_m] is living the dream! I think [name_f]Margot[/name_f] is totally fine with being home with us (though maybe a bit bored with her lack of outings— she’s always ready to jump into a video conference or call for some social interaction), but we’re certainly still struggling with balancing parenting and work during the day. I am indeed grateful that we’re all happy and healthy and able to stay safely at home.
I have another OB appointment next week and as far as I know it’s still scheduled to be in person. I’ve heard of health care providers moving to telemedicine for every other appointment, but I don’t know how that would work with regular bloodwork. [name_f]My[/name_f] fingers are crossed that things are back to normal by [name_u]July[/name_u].
On a happier note: is anyone making progress with names?
[name_m]Hi[/name_m]! So happy to be apart of this group! Due with my second [name_f]September[/name_f] 24th! I have a son named [name_u]Jackson[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] nn [name_m]Jax[/name_m] who is 3! Would be cool if some of you guys could help me with a name for my Bub! A couple of names I like atm are
Boys
[name_u]Cove[/name_u] [name_u]Wilder[/name_u]
[name_u]August[/name_u] [name_m]Henry[/name_m]
[name_u]River[/name_u] [name_m]Jenson[/name_m]
[name_m]Diesel[/name_m] [name_u]Elliot[/name_u]
[name_u]Wolf[/name_u] [name_m]Rafferty[/name_m]
Girls
[name_u]Harper[/name_u] [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_u]Harlow[/name_u] [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_u]Indie[/name_u] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]
[name_u]Carsyn[/name_u] [name_u]Rain[/name_u]
[name_u]Juniper[/name_u] [name_f]Emily[/name_f]
Suggestions would be awesome! [name_f]Hope[/name_f] everyone is dealing ok with this rough time 
@neveholt82 First things first, [name_m][name_u]Jackson[/name_u][/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] is adorable, and I love it. [name_m]How[/name_m]'s [name_m]Jax[/name_m] coping with life under isolation? From your list (congrats on #2!), my favourites are [name_u]River[/name_u] [name_u]Jensen[/name_u] and [name_f][name_u]Indie[/name_u][/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f]. Big fan of [name_f]Rose[/name_f] as well (one of DH’s favourites), and I love [name_m][name_u]Cove[/name_u][/name_m] every time I see it.
On this end, I’m still in a love affair with [name_m]Beckett[/name_m]. I really feel like it’s the one, just trying to find the perfect middle name match. [name_m]Beckett[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] is still Hubby’s fav, but I’m still open to suggestions that fit the bill for my future beach bub.
[name_f]Hope[/name_f] you all have been well! I’m trying to keep a lid on my anxieties these days but it’s a stressful time for the whole world. In addition to all of the first pregnancy jitters, I work in an ICU full of folks who have come down with COVID pretty hard. The only thing to do is to keep calm and carry on, so that’s what we are trying to do!
In the name department, DH and I have gotten pretty fond of [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], but we are also toying with some ‘stronger’ names, maybe as a middle. Being carried and born in times like these takes a little extra ‘oomph!’ I’m thinking of names like [name_f]Athena[/name_f], [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f], [name_f]Elinor[/name_f], [name_f]Althea[/name_f], [name_f]Brigid[/name_f], or [name_f]Valkyrie[/name_f]. Have these tough times inspired anyone else to think of giving their child a different name?
[name_f]Welcome[/name_f], and congratulations, @neveholt82! [name_f]My[/name_f] favorites with [name_m][name_u]Jackson[/name_u][/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] are [name_u]August[/name_u] [name_m]Henry[/name_m] and [name_u]Juniper[/name_u] [name_f]Emily[/name_f].
@hollyrow, [name_m]Beckett[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u] is great! [name_f]Do[/name_f] you have other ideas for a middle that you like more? Are you just thinking about a more unusual middle? Is [name_u]James[/name_u] meaningful to your husband or is it just a combination he likes?
@ekgiffen- Thank you for continuing to work through this! I can’t imagine the stress. I think all of your choices are great, but I do like the idea of a strong name to reflect the times. I think [name_f]Athena[/name_f] and [name_f]Valkyrie[/name_f] stand out in particular.
Stay safe!
@ekgiffen - Thank you for your dedication during this time! Wishing you all the good vibes and good health. I think the inspiration for a strong name is well due during these times. From your list, [name_f]Rhiannon[/name_f] and [name_f]Elinor[/name_f] are my favourites. While [name_f]Valkyrie[/name_f] is a bit much for me, I love [name_f]Valerie[/name_f] (meaning strength and healing).
@dotdraper, hope all is going well with you and the impending [name_u]Baby[/name_u] [name_f]Bea[/name_f], and that [name_f]Margot[/name_f] is still holding up with all of this social distancing.
[name_u]James[/name_u] was a middle that we chose before we ever had a first, and while I still do like it, I want to exhaust other options. Call it too much isolation and time on my hands! Lately I’ve had my mind on [name_m]Beckett[/name_m] [name_u]Jay[/name_u] or [name_m]Beckett[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m]. I’m also a big fan of [name_u]Fionn[/name_u], but I’m not confident about the way it fits with [name_m]Beckett[/name_m].
[name_m]Ah[/name_m]! No [name_m]Nap[/name_m] [name_f]Margot[/name_f] (as she shall henceforth be known) is a wild woman today. I am amazed she’s still standing. I’m amazed I’m still standing. LOL. I hope you guys are faring better.
I love [name_m]Beckett[/name_m] [name_m]Charles[/name_m], but we were going to use [name_m]Charles[/name_m] if we were having a boy so it’s definitely a personal favorite.
[name_f]Valkyrie[/name_f] doesn’t seem so out there to me, but I know an adult [name_f]Valkyrie[/name_f] [name_m]IRL[/name_m], and I’m sure that changes how wearable a name seems.
Sounds like No [name_m]Nap[/name_m] [name_f]Margot[/name_f] and Boundary Testing [name_m]Bruce[/name_m] would get along quite well.
I suppose knowing and having a familiarity with someone of a certain name changes everything. It can definitely go both ways too - there are some names that I’ll forever associate with unfortunate personalities that I’ve crossed paths with.
I love [name_m]Charles[/name_m] too. It’s meaningful for us for a couple of reasons, one of which is my father-in-law. That makes it even more special, but we always said we wouldn’t use family names so no one is left out. And I’m not prepared to commit to a “next time” to cover my side of the family!
Hey, the rest of our thread came back 
@DotDraper - all the best with your consultation. The last thing anybody needs during this time is extra reason to stress. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] your silver linings shine bright.
I have to admit, I am not going to miss being pregnant when we’re all said and done this time. What a ride.
And I can finally relax again since today’s ultrasound and consultation with maternal fetal medicine went well. I guess they will keep checking my bloodwork, but the specialist didn’t think that there was any reason for anything else at this time. Since my appointment was actually in the hospital, it was also reassuring to see that it was not especially busy and everything seemed well organized. I hope everyone else is hanging in there!
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I hope everyone is doing well, and keeping healthy and happy!
Incredibly glad to be on the home stretch!
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This thread hasn’t seen much action, but I’d like to share that our new bubba joined us during the early hours of [name_u]June[/name_u] 18.
Beckett [name_u]James[/name_u] is home sweet home.
Best of luck to the rest of the [name_u]July[/name_u]-Sept crew!
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Congratulations! [name_u]Beckett[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u] is an awesome name. [name_f]My[/name_f] third little one is due [name_u]July[/name_u] 2 but both older brother and older sister didn’t arrive until 41 weeks 1 day so I’m planning to be in this for the long haul!
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Thank you! [name_f]My[/name_f] due date was [name_u]July[/name_u] 2 as well.
Sending you good vibes during these last weeks! [name_f]Hope[/name_f] your wait isn’t too extended.
Aw! Congratulations and welcome baby [name_u]Beckett[/name_u] [name_u]James[/name_u]! Thank you for the update! This thread has been so quiet, I wondered if there would be updates when babies started arriving. [name_m]How[/name_m] are you doing? Was the Covid-19 birth experience wildly different? [name_m]How[/name_m] is [name_m]Bruce[/name_m] adjusting to being a big brother?
I’m in the final countdown, though hoping for at least a couple more weeks even if I don’t make it all the way to [name_u]July[/name_u] 28 (scheduled date). 
Hi fellow Berries!
Hope everyone is doing well! Going off of my previous two pregnancies that had extended past there due date hubby and I were living like we had all the time in the world…
However, [name_m]Gideon[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u], has another plan in mind. Arriving [name_m]Saturday[/name_m] morning. We made it back home yesterday afternoon. Older siblings, [name_m]Jabez[/name_m] [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] and [name_f]Esther[/name_f] [name_f]Blessing[/name_f], are loving their new baby brother!
I see the question asked so I’ll answerer based from my experience- in same ways COVID made things different in other ways not at all. The big differences was 1. Once you enter the hospital you can’t leave for ANYTHING. We knew this going into delivery however we didn’t realize that it even meant hubby couldn’t even leave our room. The hospital has a Dunkin Donuts as well as a cafeteria. We in our planning thought these were options had we not known we would have packed snacks to cover the between meal times. [name_m]Even[/name_m] getting a pitcher of water at the fountain down the hall was supposed to be up to the RNs even though we had always done this in the past. 2. HubbyI had to wear a mask around staff at all the times 3.Hubby getting screened at arrival my getting COVID tested after baby’s birth. 4. So much freedom in being able to leave before 48 hours- I kept telling them please don’t rush everything just so we make the discharge time. It was nice being able to leave in the PM though.
The rest of it was just like every other time. I think the tone of “the rules” we were clued in on made me nervous and not looking forward to it. But it wasn’t as traumatizing as I was expecting.
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@Alix2016 Congratulations to you, and welcome to the world [name_m]Gideon[/name_m]! [name_f]Hope[/name_f] you’re doing well, Mama.
@DotDraper Thank you! I’m feeling great (but exhausted!), and [name_u]Beckett[/name_u] is doing well adjusting to life on the outside! He’s far fussier than his older brother was, but we’re all starting to get into a rhythm. [name_m]Bruce[/name_m] is taking the big brother role in stride, though he seems quite skeptical about this crying little bundle we’ve introduced to our lives.
The Covid-19 experience was relatively smooth. Australia has opened up quite a bit in recent weeks, and our nearest hospital is quite a new facility. There was definitely some marked differences from last time. We’re a 45 minute drive from the hospital, and did call ahead. They had us wait a lot longer than with [name_m]Bruce[/name_m] before heading in. When we finally did arrive, movement in and out of the ward was very restrictive, and there was the extra step of screening on arrival. Hubby was able to move in and out of the room within reason, but had to wear a mask. There were limitations on visitors (no more than two, including your partner), but that didn’t affect our plans any. I felt that the staff was a bit overwhelmed and run off their feet, but they were always pleasant. I also felt a bit rushed toward discharge, but with no complications and a smooth delivery, there were no dramas.
I hope you’ll keep us updated when your new bundle makes her appearance! Good luck with these next few weeks!
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@Alix2016 Congratulations! I think our experience will be similar to yours— as of right now we know that our hospital will not allow my husband to leave and come back. We have ALL the snacks ready to go, though. 
@Hollyrow I’m totally ok without most visitors (we’re not allowed any). Last time around I felt like it just set me up to have an uncomfortable interaction with my in-laws who had trouble understanding my exhaustion and general discomfort following labor and a c-section. I feel like saying, “sorry, pandemic” is a good way to get off the hook. (I’m not sure they’d expect to come now, but just in case.) Unfortunately, I’m really dreading being away from a [name_f]Margot[/name_f] for a few days and she isn’t allowed to visit. 
That said, I’m so over being pregnant. I’m done with the worry, the overthinking, the nesting, the summer heat (it’s rough here), the back aches… all of it. [name_f]Bea[/name_f] is welcome to arrive any time she wants, she does not need to wait for her eviction notice. I’ll happily check in once she does!
Unrelated, my husband isn’t loving (and can’t, or refuses to, remember) middle name [name_f]Cecily[/name_f]. 
This doesn’t change anything, but I’m annoyed he’s bringing this up at 37 weeks.
First baby due 18th august, so not long now, time to really crack down on name picking.
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