Worried about pregnant neighbor

News. That I havent figured out if I'm happy about yet.
She had the baby. This morning. I know NOTHING other than she had it. Because her mom was going to be a few hours late to work, and that's what she called in with. Soo...Hopefully I can learn more tonight, if they let her go home. Otherwise, I will only know more tomarrow after work.
When I found this out at work, I was literally freaking out. I just cant figure out how to feel. I swear she better have everything ready. I swear it.
Hopefully he's alive and well, and hopefully she is too.
So..Baby is here. Now the real stuff starts happening.

Perhaps you can offer to help her a few days a week. Maybe scoop the kitty pan and take care of them and help her clean up a little and take garbage out. I know its kinda a pain but just to help her get going and caring for herself more now. Nota permanent thing but for a few weeks until she is used to having the baby around.

Originally Posted by lilleah

News. That I havent figured out if I'm happy about yet.
She had the baby. This morning. I know NOTHING other than she had it. Because her mom was going to be a few hours late to work, and that's what she called in with. Soo...Hopefully I can learn more tonight, if they let her go home. Otherwise, I will only know more tomarrow after work.
When I found this out at work, I was literally freaking out. I just cant figure out how to feel. I swear she better have everything ready. I swear it.
Hopefully he's alive and well, and hopefully she is too.
So..Baby is here. Now the real stuff starts happening.

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Lilleah, I know this doesn't help, but I don't have anything that does; I just want to say the your level of concern makes you a better person than most people are prepared to be.

Good luck to you all.

I was just thinking about if shes popped yet! thank you for the update

Originally Posted by Phenomsmom

Perhaps you can offer to help her a few days a week. Maybe scoop the kitty pan and take care of them and help her clean up a little and take garbage out. I know its kinda a pain but just to help her get going and caring for herself more now. Nota permanent thing but for a few weeks until she is used to having the baby around.

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That's definatly what I plan on doing. Gosh, I've just been freaking out. I just want to go over there and break down her door and clean before she gets home, but that's not practical.
I dont know how she's going to feel about me helping her out. She's been shunning me out pretty well the past few weeks. Wont really even say HI to me when we pass each other. So I dont know..Maybe she was just scared about the baby comming soon. I highly dought she'll be home tonight. Scince the baby was so small..(he was at 5 pounds last week), they might keep her overnight. But if I hear thier door, I'm going to call her & see if possibly I can come over and see the baby (which I would be half-lieing about, because I really want to check out the situation in a whole)..
I've 50 hours left to work this week, and hopefully I can get a little time to go help her out. With anything. Gosh! I JUST CANT WAIT TILL SHE GETS HOME! I wanted to go see her at the hospital, but then I rethought that, and that might freak her out, scince she hasnt been on the friendly side with me.
ugh...time needs to go faster so I can see her and baby. I sure hope he's alright too. I almost just want to call her at the hospital too. Does that seem right? Like just to see how she's doing? And if there is anything I can do before she gets home?

Perhaps buy a small gift for her and the baby. This will likely make you welcome either at the hospital or in her home when they arrive. FYI: My first daughter was 5 lbs. 11oz and I was sent home 24 hours after a complicated vaginal delivery.

I would definitely call her at the hospital and ask if you can come visit. What is the baby's name?
As for their lack of funds, you could call the organizations that run the thrift stores for them & see if there are any "deals" for indigent people. For instance, our local "developmentally disabled" organization has a very popular thrift store with great prices, but if a person can't afford to pay, and asks the director, she will let them shop for clothing & household items for $.50 a trash bag - she doesn't give it free because she feels that the person receiving the help will lose their self-esteem if it feels like charity. Also, you could contact the local United Methodist church -our church in Oildale, CA was very dynamic - once the pastor came across a family who's car broke along Interstate 99 - there were 3 kids plus a baby, mom & dad, hoping for a break in California. In less than 48 hrs., the church hadfound the man a job, put them up in a "mother-in-law" house owned by a parishoner; and the ladies gave a wonderful baby shower that also provided clothing & toys for the other children, and plenty of nourishing food for their pantry. The men of the church repaired the car. There are often plenty of good people willing to help, if they only know about the need. It isn't that way in every community (my local community churches have denied help twice that I personally know of - and I had to do it myself, alone, which is a great financial burden, but when babies and children are involved - well, Californians care about California's babies & children - it's our job ) I am hoping & praying that others come into the picture who can help out!
As for your friend becoming stand-offish, it could be her own pride that is causing her problems. I used to be very much a clutter-bug, who had my family in squalor; I was so embarrassed to have anyone come over, except kids & co-workers that I really, really trusted. I would have loved the help, but I was too ashamed to see them in my environment. I'm much better now.

AAAAA! ok..Well I JUST got off of the phone with her. I called the hospital right after I seen the last post. I had to ease my freaking out self.
So..
here's more news.
Baby Boy 6lbs 2 oz.
Angeles Lovelace ?havent figured out how to pronounce that one yet?
She's says he's cute. (well duh ) She was in labor for 2 hours. She's tired now. She gets to come home tomarrow morning.
She decided to go with bottle feeding. Which worries me more, because I was under the impression she was going to breast feed, which would save money..but now formula is going to KICK HER BUTT!
And out of nowhere I said "is there anything I can do for you before you get home?"
And she said "Do you think you could take us to Wal-mart tomarrow night to get some stuff?"
I said "Oh yes honey...for sure. I'll call you when I get off of work."
YES YES YES! She's accepting my help. Oh..YOu dont know how happy I am she wants the help now. I'm willing to do it all. I CANT WAIT to see the baby.
She seemed happy that I called. Ohhh...Thank god I can sleep peacefully now.

That's wonderful... A two hour labor for a first time mother, that's incerdible! As far as the bottle feeding, the hospital will likely give her enough to last a couple of days and usually (at least around here) a social worker will come by the hospital and get you signed up for WIC (or whatever it is there) if you are in need of it.

I'm so glad she is letting you help her out a bit! I'm jealous that you'll be getting to, probably, hold a little tiny newborn!

I hope all goes well and please keep us updated! I also have some baby things for a boy its not much but I am willing to send it to you if you would like!

Originally Posted by AnnasMom

That's wonderful... A two hour labor for a first time mother, that's incerdible! As far as the bottle feeding, the hospital will likely give her enough to last a couple of days and usually (at least around here) a social worker will come by the hospital and get you signed up for WIC (or whatever it is there) if you are in need of it.

I'm so glad she is letting you help her out a bit! I'm jealous that you'll be getting to, probably, hold a little tiny newborn!

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Oh yes. I'll be able to hold a day old baby! I'm excited about that.
And I'll be taking her back to WIC. I had taken her there before, but she never went and returned the paperwork and needed things for it. So, I've just gotta tell her we HAVE to go back there. Scince now she's bottle feeding, and formula is outrageously priced. And WIC gives you enough for a looong time. I loved WIC.

Gosh, is she that set on bottle feeding? Cause it's just so hard keeping everything so clean, and dealing with it in the middle of the night. I didn't know anything about it the first time with my kids, and it helped that I was told it would help me lose the weight quicker!

I wonder if there is any way to talk her into breast feeding for at least the first few days. The breast milk really is important these early days in helping with baby's immune system.

Leah, I think it's great what you are doing for this girl. You should really be commended for all of the help you have given her. I worry about you though... your a mom yourself and work 3 jobs for goodness sakes! Please make sure that you make time to care for yourself and your own family You aren't going to be doing anyone any good if you exhaust yourself to the point you are sick.

Originally Posted by squirtle

I wonder if there is any way to talk her into breast feeding for at least the first few days. The breast milk really is important these early days in helping with baby's immune system.

Leah, I think it's great what you are doing for this girl. You should really be commended for all of the help you have given her. I worry about you though... your a mom yourself and work 3 jobs for goodness sakes! Please make sure that you make time to care for yourself and your own family

You aren't going to be doing anyone any good if you exhaust yourself to the point you are sick.

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Well when I talked to her I just asked "So you're Breast feeding right?" And she was like "umm no, I'm bottle feeding now."
So I might be able to talk her into Breast Feeding for a week or so. I'll tell her it's important.
I called my mom to tell her about it, she was wondering too, and she was like "WHY in the world do you care so much about her?" And I dont really have an answer. I just feel like it's important. With a newborn baby..I mean come ON! She said "I must have done something right raising you to care so much, just dont care too much."
I just cant help it.
Anyways..I now only have 2 jobs. I did the 3 jobs for like 2 months, and thought I was going to flop over dead if I worked that much any longer. So, 2 jobs. One child. One Boyfriend. One Roommate. Two cats. And now one neighbor whom I feel I've got to do something for.
I can fit her in somewhere right?

Originally Posted by kluchetta

Gosh, is she that set on bottle feeding?

Cause it's just so hard keeping everything so clean, and dealing with it in the middle of the night. I didn't know anything about it the first time with my kids, and it helped that I was told it would help me lose the weight quicker!

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Oh man. I didnt even think about the cleanliness that she's going to need to learn right quick for the bottles. Especially the late night bottles. OWI!
That might be a hard one to teach to her.
Ho hum...
Well when I take her to wal-mart I'll make alot of the car-ride strict rules for cleaning and proper ways to do it.
(that way she can't escape)

Originally Posted by lilleah

Oh man. I didnt even think about the cleanliness that she's going to need to learn right quick for the bottles. Especially the late night bottles. OWI!

That might be a hard one to teach to her.
Ho hum...
Well when I take her to wal-mart I'll make alot of the car-ride strict rules for cleaning and proper ways to do it.
(that way she can't escape)

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That's a good idea

Originally Posted by lilleah

Oh man. I didnt even think about the cleanliness that she's going to need to learn right quick for the bottles. Especially the late night bottles. OWI!

That might be a hard one to teach to her.
Ho hum...
Well when I take her to wal-mart I'll make alot of the car-ride strict rules for cleaning and proper ways to do it.
(that way she can't escape)

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Or maybe you can talk her into breast feeding since it's so much easier. And less expensive. (OTOH, hubby doesn't usually help much for those late-night feedings that way!)

What if she cant keep her own nipples clean?

I really have to commend you for stepping up to the plate for this lady and her baby!

Originally Posted by fwan

What if she cant keep her own nipples clean?

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I don't mean to laugh but I had too!
Fran, you're SO bad!
Thats why we love you....



(I had the same thought when I read this!)