Second and third trimester discussion (11/17)

footprint

Hey, hey! This is a post for any second or third trimester ladies that have questions, concerns, strange symptoms, or pregnancy-related nonsense going on! Talk away...

Samuelismomma

Anyone here get a cerclage removed and if so , how was it? I was out to put it in..oh and side note. My H has to give me my second steroid shot...ummm nervous! Lol

footprint

@‌samuelismomma I have no advice on the cerclage, but my husband has had to give me shots before. I made sure he understood that he had to use some force so that it went all of the way in. Good luck and I'm sorry you have to get a shot from your H.

@birch113 I never had BH with my son born at 36w5d, but I think I am starting with this pregnancy already. I feel a tightness across my abdomen, a little bit crampy. Then it is gone, but I'm not for sure that they are BH. So, essentially, I am no help whatsoever.

I have a general Bump question:
Is it appropriate to answer polls on other boards like TTGP just so you can see the results or is that frowned upon?

Samuelismomma

@Birch113‌ I thought braxton hicks but are contractions just not enough to move cerclage yet. Mine causes back ache( lower) and strong menstrual cramping. When it's just braxton it is tightening of entire uterus no pain. I didn't do any practice with Ds just real thing at 29 weeks, they stopped it , then had him at 34. It will work even if you don't practice! Lol

Mom2anAngel2

@Birch113‌ - I might have had 1 or 2 BHs with DS, but I have them all the time with this pg. They started around 29 weeks this time. Usually my entire ute gets tight (belly is hard to touch) but there is really no pain or even a cramping feeling. I do feel a lot of "pressure" with them, but no pain. My doctor stresses that if they are painful, last more than an hour (after resting, increasing fluids and being on your left side) or you have more than 6 per hour to call and be evaluated.

E&B0811

@Birch113‌ - one of my doctors said that if you are trying to distinguish a BH from a true contraction, touch your belly. If it is hard all over, and not just where the baby is, then touch your nose and then your forehead. Is your belly hard like the end of your nose (BH) or like your forehead (real deal)?

jap618

So I'm 25w and I'm feeling so lost.  I feel like I'm not asking important questions and/or am forgetting to bring up big things.  Maybe I'm just feeling lost in general.  Any advice or thoughts on questions that I should be asking?  I'm thinking of picking up some books at the library this afternoon and just starting to read.  Any advice on books to read? I just looked up birthing classes at my local birth center and there is a 4 week series starting next week, is that too early?  I couldn't find another 4 week series so I'm going to call today because I'd rather do it through January but I don't want to miss it.  Ahh I feel like I'm starting to panic  

dragonfly1809

I've had the same question @Birch113‌ ...even though I should know what real contractions feel like, I honestly don't remember. My contractions with Finn (VBAC) all hovered around my c-section scar..I sorta knew from the start that wasn't the way it was meant to feel. (I ended up with another c-section in the end.)
I never had BH with him (that I could distinguish) but this time around I've been getting them - I think.. Onset of tightness, not necessarily painful but odd feeling and not so comfortable. They only last a minute or less.

I have no experience with either @Samuelismomma, but want to wish you luck.

@jap618‌ ..you're here, and asking, so you're already asking the right stuff.
17 years ago - when I had my daughter, there was no information, no Internet forums like this, and the only book I had was "What to Expect.." (Which looking at now is completely lame).. I didn't know it at the time, but I was completely naive and clueless. I just went with the flow.
Sometimes I wish I could go back to that blissful unawareness.
It all turned out okay. She's great.. I may have made mistakes along the way, or did or didn't do this or that ..Don't stress over it too much. The right questions will come at the right times, and you'll learn to trust your motherly instincts.
Again, you're already in the best place for answers.

Eliz77

At what point should a baby be head down? Still breech at 36 weeks but NP and o/b didn't really comment about it yesterday, said to see what we find at u/s next week. The only thing that makes me nervous is that I am now on heparin, and worried if I were to go into labor still breech, have to have a c/s, as opposed to being scheduled and stopping heparin in time. 

Mom2anAngel2

@Eliz77‌ - my OB always says that babies should be head down between 35-37 weeks. If there is a concern they order an u/s around 36 weeks to determine position. It sounds like this is already what you are doing. You can try spinning babies, but otherwise just I would wait to see what happens with the u/s. GL! I hope LO is head down for you.

ToriGirl2014

E&B0811 said:

@Birch113‌ - one of my doctors said that if you are trying to distinguish a BH from a true contraction, touch your belly. If it is hard all over, and not just where the baby is, then touch your nose and then your forehead. Is your belly hard like the end of your nose (BH) or like your forehead (real deal)?

Is it weird that I just did the nose/forehead thing at my desk?  Haha

ToriGirl2014

@jap618 - the only book I've read is the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.  I keep coming back to it.  Lots of good, if basic, stuff in there and you can read about common symptoms and issues at the appropriate point in the pregnancy. They also have an app you could get, alternatively, that takes you week by week through the pregnancy which is more like a Cliff's notes summary of the book.

@birch113 - to me, BH feels like an overall abdominal tightening and when you touch the belly it's firm; they are not painful but can be uncomfortable.  I've also had some cramping recently which I'm guessing is either from continued stretching or are mini-contractions... they feel different than BH.  They freak me out, too.

pblge

@jap618 - I also have the Pregnancy Week by Week book, and it's got a lot more detail than the Mayo clinic book. Both are great.

Can anyone recommend books about birth? I've started reading the Ina May book, but I know I'll be giving birth in a hospital, as there really aren't other options here. The area in which I live is really behind the times in some ways, and I expect I may have to fight for a low or no-intervention "natural" birth. There also isn't a single class on the Bradley method or anything else in this region.

megbmeg

pblge said:

@jap618 - I also have the Pregnancy Week by Week book, and it's got a lot more detail than the Mayo clinic book. Both are great.

Can anyone recommend books about birth? I've started reading the Ina May book, but I know I'll be giving birth in a hospital, as there really aren't other options here. The area in which I live is really behind the times in some ways, and I expect I may have to fight for a low or no-intervention "natural" birth. There also isn't a single class on the Bradley method or anything else in this region.

@pblge I haven't read it myself, but other moms have told me they liked the book Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds. I really like my Mindful Birthing book. 

akleng

@jap618 I also have the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy and really like it.

And @Birch113, I will be subscribing to that podcast right now!

luciddreamer106

How much clothing for the baby do I really need? I've looked around online at different sources and they're all different. Also, I have no idea how big the baby will be, so I don't want to stock up on NB sizes if he/she won't even fit into them (or grow out of in 1 week).

ToriGirl2014

Here's my question:

Anyone ever notice that after LO has a super active day, the next day s/he is relatively quiet?  This seems to be my LO's pattern and it never ceases to freak me out.  One day she's bumping and pushing around all day long (rolling arms and legs, pushing, stepping on my bladder, pushing her butt out), and the next it's just an occasional little nudge here and there.

chicagojackie

With DD I felt like the Braxton Hicks were sharp and short and a lot like a gas pain or a stitch in the side. I also could walk, talk, eat, etc through them. My labor contractions with her were a sustained pain in the back with general tightening of the belly and all I could do then was close my eyes and breathe.

@samuelismomma It didn't hurt to have it out. It was weird but it didn't hurt. I was awake.

Flowerstar1023

@pblge I'm really enjoying a book called mindful childbirth. It's helping me relax at night too when the PGAL brain gets to be too much.

shandorfml2

sorry ladies I've been MIA... 

my Grandpa passed away and my Mom (who has pancreatic cancer) was in the hospital for a week. Now that I'm back home and back in my routine I'm hoping back on thebump.

I'm enjoying kicks and squirms from my little one A/S on dec. 3rd,. looking forward to finding out what we're having

hope everyone is doing well!

chicagojackie

@shandorfml2 T&P to you hun

jap618

@shandorfml2 (((hugs))) I'm sorry for the loss of your gram.  T&P to you & your family  I can't wait for you to find out what you're having & I'm glad you can feel him/her moving already!!

Thank you everyone!!  I'm going to pick up those books & google the podcast this week!  I feel like there needs to be so much more for me to know!  

KJsbabe

@jap618‌ I really liked The Happiest Baby on the Block. Before DD I had zero newborn/ baby experience and was nervous I wouldn't have a clue of what to do. The book has some really great soothing techniques, step by step how to swaddle, and good insight into new born life.

@ToriGirl2014‌ My LO does the same thing. The slow days freak me out, too!

@luciddreamer106‌ You don't need a ton of clothes. My general rule is 5-7 each of sleepers, onesies, pants, and socks for each size. NB size is kind of a gamble. DD was 7.6lbs and fit into NB clothes for about 4 weeks, so we got a lot of use out of ours. But I know lots of babies grow out of them much quicker. For your take home outfit, I would go with a NB size, but maybe keep the tags on any other NB clothes until your LO is here and you know how big they are.

megbmeg

mmheartspb said:

Cervical checks - were they painful for you? I got one testator and holy crap I was not ready for that! Just curious what others experiences are...

I just had first one and I'd say it was uncomfortable. But it stayed uncomfortable for the whole next day!

Btw, glad to see you @mmheartspb‌. I didn't see 10 things Thursday today, so I was worried about you!

BackstreetPixie

Sorry I'm late the the party this week y'all...  

I'm pretty sure I'm having BH, after talking with my doc. Mine happen when I am on my feet or active for more than 5 minutes.  It feels heavy and tight low in my abdomen like someone put a brick inside there. 

Also I saw doc today, all was well go back in a month and we will be doing the glucose test. What can I expect from that? I know I gotta drink something.. what all does this test entail? Thanks.  

Mel&John2013

mmheartspb said:

Cervical checks - were they painful for you? I got one testator and holy crap I was not ready for that! Just curious what others experiences are...

I remember my first one, and I was like you...I was not expecting that! I'm not sure what he was reaching for, but he really wanted to find it. Geez!

Mel&John2013

BackstreetPixie said:

Sorry I'm late the the party this week y'all...  

I'm pretty sure I'm having BH, after talking with my doc. Mine happen when I am on my feet or active for more than 5 minutes.  It feels heavy and tight low in my abdomen like someone put a brick inside there. 

Also I saw doc today, all was well go back in a month and we will be doing the glucose test. What can I expect from that? I know I gotta drink something.. what all does this test entail? Thanks.  

Glucose test isn't bad...I remember the hardest part being that I couldn't eat for a few hours before drinking the juice. Then I drank the juice and got blood drawn an hour later. Easy!

Mel&John2013

@mmheartspb That's exactly what I had thought, that it would be like a pelvic. I can't stop chuckling now, I remember being so taken aback. 

Don't worry about childbirth, you'll do great!  

megbmeg

@backstreetpixie - The glucose test always involves drinking a really, really, really intensely sweet drink that you need to down in 5 minutes. Depending on your dr's orders you may have to fast for some time before that, and you'll wait for an hour and have your blood drawn (or you may have a couple of hours to wait with a couple of blood draws). 

For some people the test is no biggie, but if you have been having morning sickness, it can be a bear. I felt pretty sick for the rest of the day afterward. I have heard it can help to have something on the ready to eat as soon as the test is over. 

If your #'s are high on this first test, the doc will have you do another, 3 hr test. 

GL!

taberbtb

@pblge‌ & @jap618‌ one of the ladies on my BMB (who also happens to be an MD) recommended the book "Easy Labour". I think it does a really good job of describing all of your choices for pain management from every different medication, to the Bradley method and hypnobabies as well as what to expect with each and what and side effects or limitations may be for each. I found it very informative! @KJsbabe‌ I will definitely be checking out your recommendation as that is my biggest source of stress right now. What to do with LO once we bring her home!

@Birch113‌ my midwife described BH to me as the same sensation of a sit up. It should be painless, but feel tight all over just like you were doing a sit up.

megbmeg

@taberbtb I've been reading Eat, Sleep, Poop this week and I really like it. We've been so focused on pregnancy and labor that it's only really starting to sink in that - holy cow! - we're going to have a little baby in our house in a couple of weeks; we should probably figure out how to take care of her!