Husband Deployed, Pregnant W/1st Child. Need Activities to Keep Busy.

Hi S.,
I am not sure if you have been signed up with Hearts Apart program at the Airman Family and Readiness Center...(beside Thrift Shop which is next to BK on base).......they offer sooooooooo much activities! Call up Kris Keyser over there and get yourself signed up for the Valentine's Dinner at the Nightingale! You go past the Commissary and thru the 4 way stop and over the small hill and directly on your left is the Nightingale Chow Hall. Its super nice inside and there is so many deployed family member coming together. I could introduce you to some very nice ladies there who would love to get to know you!
I'm K. and would love meeting you!
Our family attends the Belleville Nazarene Church and there is alot of new moms pregant for the first time! Its a super friendly church! Come for spaghetti Dinner this Wed at 6:30 and join the women afterwards for a study.
Have a Great Day!
K.

S.,

I just came from a scrapbooking retreat so I would advocate for scrapbooking as a way to keep busy. I am not a journaling or diary type person but during pregnancy I did keep a journal - especially with my first since everything is new and exciting.

I would also recommend reading positive birth stories. One book is Ina Mae Gaskin's guide to Childbirth. This is a great way to prepare you.

Have you checked into volunteering with local groups? There may be a group that has things you can do at home that can keep you busy.

If you have any interest in volunteering, I volunteer with our local chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN). It is a support group for women wanting to increase their chances of having a normal vaginal birth (and avoid an unnecessary cesarean),or plan a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). We also provide mother to mother support for cesarean recovery. We are just starting to meet in Illinois. We have met in St. Louis for 3 years. We could use help calling places to get the word out. I am calling chiropractors offices and getting out brochures to them. Our info is at http://stlouis.ican-online.org/

After your baby is born there are many activities for you and your baby to get involved in. There are local story times at area libraries, several area MOPS groups. Some of the public schools have playgroups. Mascoutah and Belleville rec centers also have playgroups. It is a great way to meet other mothers.

This is off topic but if you are delivering at St. Elizabeth's - have you checked into their doula program?

Best of luck with everything.

J.

Sara,
I just saw your request on Mamasource. Is your husband stationed at Scott Air Force Base? My husband is and we have been here for almost 3 years. I could give you some ideas. I know what it is like, being without your husband. We have been married 15 years and he has deployed 8 times. Any questions or just to talk, email me back.

Good luck,
T.

Hi S.,
I am also an AF spouse at Scott. I have a 2 yo boy and 6 month old girl. My husband is currently deployed, due to come back in 5 weeks. I know how you feel. Don't have much advice for bedrest activities, but I wanted to invite you to join the ScottAFB Chat group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ScottAFBChat/

This is a wonderful group of Scott AFB spouses. We chat through the group, but a lot of us also get together on a regular basis for playdates, dinners, etc. Everyone is VERY supportive of each other and always quick to offer advice and help. We have get-togethers scheduled a couple times a week. Attendance varies, but you could meet a bunch of us pretty quickly if you are able to come.

I hope you decide to join the group, and that you are able to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy until your bundle of joy arrives! Rest up and hang in there!