Weekly Pregnancy Chatter & Questions (10/10-10/16)

cclaineDC

@rkstro2 It's so helpful to hear your story. I hadn't thought about how my family would handle such heavy news. I'll keep this in mind as I weigh whether or not to undergo either test.

MrsFreeman2010

@cclaineDC I agree with pp, one of my dear friend's partner was super low risk, deferrred the testing and then was surprised at delivery. He is now raising him his own (not because of the diagnosis, mom had other personal things going on) and he does an amazing job but at the beginning he really struggled. I would imagine mourning the loss of what was expected.  He wouldn't change anything now but he does say he wish he would have known sooner so he could have prepared better instead of learning on the fly how to best take care of and support a baby with different needs.  

I elect for the testing just for the information.  I wouldn't terminate (not judging those who would choose differently, just my choice) but I would like to prepare the best way possible. 

mrsrep123

kayemjay2 said:

@WombThereItIs, @Kipperoo - I am definitely with you. I have already busted out the my belly band on days when the baby bloat is especially bad. Any suggestions on good maternity work pants? I splurged on a couple pairs from Ann Taylor Loft last time, but they did not hold up well at all

@kayemjay2 try gap... but don't order online. Go into the store because there are always sales (they never go on sale online).

laurenann89

@Jellybeanqueen13 I am still getting cramping on and off too!  I am a little behind most people on here though, as I'm due May 27. I'm 7 wks 5 days today. But I definitely have been having some mild cramping this week. I think it's the uterus stretching.

bacorrea

I really want chips & dip. 

Does anyone watch How to Get Away with Murder? This episode was craaaazy! 

vrj0522

@cclaineDC - I agree with PPs. I have a nephew who was born with down syndrome when both parents were in their early 20s and they didn't know until the baby was here. Even though we sure loved that baby there was a grieving process for both parents and the families and some got through it faster than others and some struggled more than others. I have elected for testing with each pregnancy so that we can be fully ready when that baby comes. 

onebadmotha

@Laurieday10 and @mrsrep123 - Thanks for the tips! I will definitely check out those places! As much as I prefer online shopping to in store, I love a good deal even more

Yiggle09

@cclaineDC I just want an excuse for an ultrasound so I opt in for the 12 week. This year because I have already hit my total out of pocket for medical bills the 12 week ultrasound is free to me. With my first my favorite memory was that my son pushed off one side of my uterus and stretched his whole body out and floated up to the next side of my uterus. It was amazing to watch because at 12 weeks they look fully formed as a baby and they have tons of room to play during the ultrasound. At 20 weeks they are so smushed in there I didn't experience any interesting visuals during it other than finding the sex out. 

flychick-2

@cclaineDC I'm just going to echo what PP said that it's probably better to know the diagnosis than be surprised. Plus it tests for more than just Down's, so even if you wouldn't doing anything for that, maybe a different diagnosis would change things. And even if that's not the case, some of the things that it tests for you would want to know about so there can be medical services specific to that condition as soon as the baby is born.

Jellybeanqueen13

Today, I have had some light brown spotting.

I had a pap test done on Tuesday afternoon and she said it could cause some bleeding, but I didn't end up having any. So, could it be old blood from Tuesday even though it's 3 days later? Should I even be worrying? 

pshaortao

@Jellybeanqueen13 brown blood is old blood so it could very well be from the pap. As long its light spotting without cramping I wouldnt worry 

alr5k

I don't know if this has been asked yet, but is anyone having issues with their hair falling out? Literally I can run my fingers through my hair and lots of hair comes out each time. When I was pregnant with DS, I felt like my hair just grew and grew and seemed to never fall out until after I had him. I'm taking prenatals everyday. Just wondering if anyone else was dealing with this.

chickyclg

Feeling a little bummed/nervous, my RE tested my progesterone levels and he is still not comfortable weaning me off of my progesterone, I am 9 weeks today.  Isn't the baby supposed to be creating its own progesterone by now? 

CajunSnowWhite89

@chickyclg my RE has me on them till 12 weeks and from what I've researched it seems like the norm to stay on them till closer to the end of first tri.

chickyclg

@CajunSnowWhite89 that makes me feel a little better, I think I was completely off of everything by 11 weeks last go around.  He mentioned reducing my dosage yesterday but then I was told not to in my patient portal.  

Do you know what your progesterone levels are at? Mine have been bouncing between 13-18.

cclaineDC

Thanks for all the great input re: down's syndrome tests. My husband and I talked it over and decided to go ahead with it-- NIPT next week, though @Yiggle09 the u/s sounds fun . My twin sister opted out of the screenings, but while she's my main source of advice (unsolicited and not), it seriously helps to hear other opinions/stories. 

geoffandjen728

alr5k said:

I don't know if this has been asked yet, but is anyone having issues with their hair falling out? Literally I can run my fingers through my hair and lots of hair comes out each time. When I was pregnant with DS, I felt like my hair just grew and grew and seemed to never fall out until after I had him. I'm taking prenatals everyday. Just wondering if anyone else was dealing with this.

for me it is major major breakage. This happened with my last two pregnancies too. I pretty much have bangs now just from broken hair. It stopped by second tri with my first two pregnancies...  then the real hair falling out post partum.... gross. Prenatals galore doesn't seem to make much difference 

rkstro2

alr5k said:

I don't know if this has been asked yet, but is anyone having issues with their hair falling out? Literally I can run my fingers through my hair and lots of hair comes out each time. When I was pregnant with DS, I felt like my hair just grew and grew and seemed to never fall out until after I had him. I'm taking prenatals everyday. Just wondering if anyone else was dealing with this.

i feel like all my hair will fall out any day.  It's coming out in clumps! 

hp_momma

@alr5k YES! My hair is falling out so much, especially in the shower. Which is causing major breakage and frizzeness. Ugh. I remember this AFTER giving birth but I don't remember it during my other two pregnancies. I have an appointment with my hair dresser next week so I'm hoping she can give me some advice on how to deal with this! 

laurenann89

@alr5k
My hair is doing the same thing, and the breakage is worse like @geoffandjen728 said. My scalp is so dry and pregnancy is making my scalp psoriasis act up. I have big, scaly, red patches on my scalp that drive me nuts! I think I'm going to try coconut oil and get a hair cut to help.

bacorrea

alr5k said:

I don't know if this has been asked yet, but is anyone having issues with their hair falling out? Literally I can run my fingers through my hair and lots of hair comes out each time. When I was pregnant with DS, I felt like my hair just grew and grew and seemed to never fall out until after I had him. I'm taking prenatals everyday. Just wondering if anyone else was dealing with this.

I was having this problem too, then I went and got my hair trimmed (just to get rid of the dead ends) and it has stopped. 

CajunSnowWhite89

@chickyclg now that I think about it I have no idea what my levels are. When the nurse called after my most recent bloodwork she said my numbers were where they wanted but she didnt want to take me off so we could make sure it stayed up. I know it's so awful of me, but I didn't think to ask!

nda_roxybabe

Before I found out I was pg, at about 4/5 weeks I was losing SO much hair. I googled and decided it was a result of having gone off the pill the month before. Maybe it was a pregnancy thing... It's stopped around 6/7 weeks 

kaley04

@chickyclg my RE has me on them till 12 weeks also. Then the placenta takes over. I don't get tested for my numbers anymore. 

Nabi

I feel like I'm not interested in food either and I'm on week 8. Greek yogurt and granola and fruit has helped me in the morning.

JonesBaby0624

My hips are hurting so bad tonight.  They feel like they have so much pressure on them.  I've never felt this with another pregnancy.  Is anyone else having a lot of hip pain or pressure?  Maybe it's not related.

hp_momma

Got to snuggle on a 6 day old baby today! Always makes me so anxious for May to be here when I can snuggle my own all the time! 

Also found out my cousin is due 10 days before me! Although she doesn't know it yet because we haven't announced yet. Hope she's not in the May Birth Month Group or I just outed myself... ha. 

starphish18

@JonesBaby0624 My hips have been sore, too...mostly in the sides and back along my sciatica. They'll even be sore if I just sit one way for too long. 

JonesBaby0624

@starphish18 I'm going to the chiropractor this afternoon to see if I can get some relief.

mamasmurf12

Round Ligament Pain is starting to jolt me all the time. I just laid on my tummy (propped on a pillow on bed for a second) and it took 5 minutes for me to get up bc of all the pulling in my sides. I have fibroids too (they usually grow through my pregnancy), so I'm wondering if they are getting bigger and it's causing the ligament pain earlier. I seriously look like I am 5 months along...yikes!!!

JonesBaby0624

@mamasmurf12 I didn't know they continue to grow through the pregnancy.  I don't know why I thought some of those things slowed with the additional hormones.  Ouch!  I'm sorry!

Abby7

I had an u/s this morning and the heartrate was really high, 199. Has anyone else had a really high one like that? The PA was not concerned but I sure am.

pshaortao

@abby7 I did a quick google. That does seem unusually high! Could he/she have been moving around a lot during the ultrasound? That seems to be the most acceptable reason. I hope you get some reassurance from your doctor soon.

Amybee5

Just wondering what everyone's opinions are on at home dopplers? My cousin gave me hers and I've used it twice and successfully sorted through all the sounds (thanks to YouTube) to hear the babies heartbeat. I'm just wondering if anyone has been warned not to use them for the safety of the baby or if anyone has any information on their use?

SKZW

JonesBaby0624 said:

@mamasmurf12 I didn't know they continue to grow through the pregnancy.  I don't know why I thought some of those things slowed with the additional hormones.  Ouch!  I'm sorry!

I have one large fibroid but when we measured it Friday doc said (I'm paraphrasing!), "huh, it's smaller, that sometimes happens, and there's no real explanation why that happens, but we'll take it!" so I'm betting that you DID hear that getting smaller sometimes happens but that growing during preg alongside baby also can happen.

mamasmurf12

@JonesBaby0624 Yeah they doubled in size with DD1&2. They are on the outside of my uterus, though, and have never caused problems, thank the Lord. 
@SKZW Wow that is great that yours is shrinking! 

JonesBaby0624

@mamasmurf12 I hope they don't cause any problems with this pregnancy either.

SKZW

JonesBaby0624 said:

@mamasmurf12 I hope they don't cause any problems with this pregnancy either.

Agreed! 

For me, with the fibroid and peanut, it's like I'm a boxing referee: stay in your separate corners! 

mamasmurf12

Thanks ladies, me too!!! 

KMD1106

Amybee5 said:

Just wondering what everyone's opinions are on at home dopplers? My cousin gave me hers and I've used it twice and successfully sorted through all the sounds (thanks to YouTube) to hear the babies heartbeat. I'm just wondering if anyone has been warned not to use them for the safety of the baby or if anyone has any information on their use?

I used one with DD and am debating whether to get one again. My ob never warned against them for medical reasons, but did say that because I wasn't trained, it could cause undue stress. He recommended not using it.