Symptoms Thread 1/11

HGRich

What's new or exhaustingly the same with our bodies this week? Changes are coming as we're approaching or in the third tri, and some of us are dealing with some fun stuff like high blood pressure and GD. Feel free to share/complain about it here. 

catem07

I just found some red blood in my panty liner and when I wiped, but I did shave when I showered this morning. It didn't seem to be coming out of my vagina, necessarily (I'm having a baby and yet I still find using that word to be funny...) I have a doctor's appointment on Friday, and am not feeling any abnormal cramps. I'm 28 weeks. I can also feel baby moving as normal. I think given that information I should just wait and see and then maybe call if it continues or gets worse?

ETA: After further investigation, seems like it's either from the shaving or hemorrhoids (how do I know if I have them?). Thanks for the advice!

HGRich

@catem07 yikes! Blood is always scary. But yeah, I'd say if there's more in an hour to call the doc. But we all know shaving cuts can bleed for awhile, and if baby is moving fine, I'd give it a little time to see. 

Eta--awkward question, but do you have hemmorroids? I called the doc once about bleeding and it turned out to be hemmorroids. Embarrassing, though there's nothing wrong with calling to be sure. Ha. 

SnarkasaurusRex

@catem07 I'd wait and see if there's more. Call if it picks up or if you start getting any cramps.

I called my OB freaking out last pregnancy about bleeding during third tri, and it was a hemorrhoid. Super fun appointment for me to find that out. I have them again this pregnancy (and I actually don't think they ever fully went away, ugh), so I pretty much attribute any blood in my panty liner to those.

HGRich

I'm at the point where I make a lot of noise standing and sitting and walking now, but less because of size or weight gain and more because of pelvic pain. Every time I've mentioned it to a doc they say it's RLP and last time I was frustrated so I cut him off and said "no, it's not sudden pain, it's constant. I know what RLP is and this isn't it." But he gave me no advice other than to take it easy. But at this point I can barely walk and I have to slowly ease down to sitting and slowly ease up to standing positions. I don't know what to do and my maternity belt isn't helping much. It just hurts a lot. Sigh. 

Otherwise I gotta say I feel pretty good. Since I was a teenager I've never been able to go a day without washing my hair because it's fine and oily. But lately it's lovely and voluminous and oil free. Love it! 

Virginialeigh

I've been feeling a lot of pressure. She's much lower than DS was. I'm also not sleeping because she is very active at night. It feels like she has a trampoline in there with her.

chelle087

@catem07 hope that it was nothing...I would probably attribute it to shaving too. I had a little bit of bleeding in the third tri with my first and when I called the doctor they just told me to keep an eye on it and as long as the baby was moving and the bleeding stopped it was no big deal.

cafedisco

Anyone have a sore belly?  More like a bruised feeling I suppose.  The top center is where I feel it and it's every day, starting about midday.  It's just so achey.  Can I put an ice pack on my bump?  Is that weird?  

rachelgreene-2

@cafedisco I think you should be able to do that. If it isn't prolonged it should be fine. I would check with your health care provider though. 

Last at night I had what I thought was a Charlie horse ended up being leg spasms that lasted for about 15 minutes. It was so freaking painful. It seriously made me question whether or not I will be able to handle labor pains. I talked to my midwife today about and told me it was common and that it will can continue throughout the rest of my pregnancy. Greeeaatt

HGRich

@catem07 to answer your ETA--glad it stopped! You can tell pretty well with hemmorroids. If you bleed after a BM and there's any red in the toilet--that's hemmorroids. Alternately, any pain during a BM indicates that too. And not that anybody would want to, but you can feel them at the entrance to your er--bum hole. Unless they're internal only, then you won't feel them. I haven't had any this pregnancy but I've had them before due to stress and diet years ago in college and in recent years in grad school and they're the worst. But really common in pregnancy apparently so I anticipate I'll probably end up with them eventually. 

HappyAnjel

 I am super sore... mostly around my hips and back and a bit near my C-section scar.  My hips never expanded with DD- I could wear normal pants under my bump, certainly not the case this time! Plus I make noise when I move too.. but it's a combo of sore and huge. I'm officially unable to pick things up off the floor and have been having my 4 year old help with getting my shoes haha

schef070911

This is odd, but I've noticed on my right breast that for the last week or so there is a purple mark (almost looks like a bruise) around one of my veins close to the areola.  I think it is probably the start of a stretch mark because it isn't painful and doesn't feel any different than the tissue around it - I was just surprised because it's the first change to my breasts I've seen in two months or so.  No stretch marks noticed anywhere else (yet).  Anyone else see anything that looks like this?  I'll probably have the OB look at it next week just in case.

bww_0331

I have been getting headaches, nausea, and some light headedness the last couple of days. I'm guessing I am not getting enough water. It's so hard to drink enough at school when there aren't many bathroom break opportunities with a block schedule. It's making it very hard to focus and concentrate though. 

Omie_Wise

Yesterday when I was walking my dog I had stabbing pains from the top of my bump down in the front and along my sides. I kind of assume it was dehydration because I didn't drink enough water yesterday or the day before. Has this happened to anyone else? 

HGRich

@Omie_Wise I personally have stabbing pains a lot, everywhere. Haha. I don't know exactly what causes some of them that aren't RLP, but I'd say if it's along your bump it's just stretching. Nerves and ligaments taking a lot of pressure, especially while walking. Could have been baby hitting a nerve, I guess. 

Taylor72

@schef070911 I noticed something that sounds similar last month, she said it was a ruptured blood vessel  

Blueberry85

Heartburn is KILLING me. It does not matter what I eat/drink or when, it's always there. I upped my Zantac to two-a-day (plus 3-4 tums a day), but even that isn't cutting it, so my midwife suggested I also try Pepcid and just alternate throughout the day to see if that helps keep it at bay. Ugh.

bww_0331

Is anyone else experiencing a decrease in movement? I'm trying not to let it worry me too much, and I definitely plan to ask at my appointment tomorrow, but I thought I would see if anyone else is experiencing the same thing.  LO was super active Sunday afternoon. But for most of the week he has been very quiet. I'm not feeling the regular jabs anymore. It's all softer movements and some rolls versus bigger kicks I used to get. 

HGRich

@wagnerw I've noticed she's become more cyclical. As in, dance parties mostly at night when I'm asleep, as far as I can tell (since I've woken up to pee and found her doing it). And then she's active but softer during the day. Alternately, I figured she's just getting bigger and starting to have less room to move. That's my thought anyway. Glad you have an appointment so soon and can ask! 

kitkat8387

@wagnerw I have been having this happen to me as well. I used to just feel kicks, but the past few days I've been feeling more rolling motions and fewer kicks. If I had to guess, I'd say he turned around at some point and so the types of movements I can feel are different. From what I hear, it's pretty normal for them to change positions frequently at this stage. 

visualcircus

@wagnerw The guidelines I use are count kicks in the morning and evening. If I really need movement I drink a glass of ice water and lay on my side to get the counts in. Hoping your appointment went well and got your questions answered.

I got a call yesterday about having pregnancy anemia and was prescribed iron supplements. I've been tired a lot and it doesn't help I've been sick the last 3 weeks. Does anyone else have experience of whether their symptoms improved after being on iron supplements for a while to treat anemia?

smoochie041719

@wagnerw my doctor mentioned exactly what you are describing at my 28 week appointment yesterday. She said in the 3rd tri its super common for moms to thing they have decreased movement because the movements start to feel softer/more subtle towards the end because the baby doesn't have as much space to really thrash around or stretch out. She said as long as you get the 10 movements in 2 hours no matter the type of movement, its all good. She also said if after the first hour you don't feel like you've had enough movement, drink something cold and sweet and sit and concentrate on the movements for the second hour to get a good count. Definitely something to ask your own doctor about at your appointment! 

smoochie041719

@visualcircus I don't personally have any experience with the iron supplement, but I do know pregnancy anemia is SUPER common. My friend was put on iron supplements for the same reason and they seemed to help with her tiredness, just watch out because the main side effect is constipation so you might want to bulk up on your fiber intake preemptively! 

schef070911

@Taylor72 Had not considered that! That's probably what it is.  Thanks

@wagnerw I feel decreased movement to an extent but I'm almost positive it's because Nugget changed positions. I used to feel hard and frequent kicks (at least I think they are kicks?) to the far right side of my belly, but those disappeared earlier this week and were replaced with kicks to the ribs instead. I feel those for sure (oof!), but it's way more subtle.  I also feel more "rolling" motions for the last two weeks or so compared with the past.

bww_0331

Thanks for all of the insight, ladies. It was a quiet night and I've felt one or two very small movements this morning. Hoping it is just that baby had moved around/has less room. Very grateful to already have an appointment set up for this afternoon. Just feeling on edge for now. I appreciate all of your help

KirstinH88

I've been having killer foot/toe cramps at night lately. Hurts soooo bad. 

Nolegirl1185

@wagnerw  that is exactly what I have been feeling too!  I hope it's normal.

Nolegirl1185

All the old symptoms are still there, I am now on an iron supplement for anemia, magnesium for sciatica/RLS, and labetalol for high blood pressure.  I'm also on my 3rd z-pack for this pregnancy. You should see the pile of pills I take on a daily basis!

chelle087

I am starting to have joint pain in my hips when I sit or lay too for too long. I feel like an old lady when I get out of bed in the morning.

ashleym112

HGRich said:

I'm at the point where I make a lot of noise standing and sitting and walking now, but less because of size or weight gain and more because of pelvic pain. Every time I've mentioned it to a doc they say it's RLP and last time I was frustrated so I cut him off and said "no, it's not sudden pain, it's constant. I know what RLP is and this isn't it." But he gave me no advice other than to take it easy. But at this point I can barely walk and I have to slowly ease down to sitting and slowly ease up to standing positions. I don't know what to do and my maternity belt isn't helping much. It just hurts a lot. Sigh. 

Otherwise I gotta say I feel pretty good. Since I was a teenager I've never been able to go a day without washing my hair because it's fine and oily. But lately it's lovely and voluminous and oil free. Love it! 

I've been in the same boat, I can barely stand up and by the end of work I can barely walk. I'm going to talk to my doctor next week about using baby wraps as a maternity belt. I follow the Babywearing International chapter page for my area and someone recently posted about it. I've also seen people use the kinesiology tape that athletes use for extra support as well. 

pammasu0909

I'm officially 3rd tri and I officially hate everyone.  Literally everyone haha.  Don't talk to me, don't give me work to do, don't cry for the entire 20 minute ride to school, don't kick me in the stomach, don't wake me up.... My list goes on for awhile.  I wish I could hibernate until March.

HGRich

@ashleym112 interesting! I have a friend who is a PT and she suggested some exercises I could try. I mentioned kinesiology tape and she seemed skeptical but I may have to try it. Let me know how it goes with the wrap. I would think that would be bulky but I don't know! 

@pammasu0909 I feel you.  I wish I could show it but I tend to feel guilty if I do. Maybe in a few weeks I won't care. 

schef070911

@ashleym112 I'd love to know if there is a doctor-approved way to use kinesio tape to help with support.  I have some from foot injuries and I've thought about it, but I didn't want to try applying it without knowing it was safe.

smoochie041719

@schef070911 my best friend works at a chiropractic office, and when she was pregnant the doctor would tape her belly every week and she said it felt awesome. I wonder if there are directions online. 

ashleym112

 @schef070911 @BabyBlake042017 I'm sure there are directions online, but I ask the dr for instruction first so you're placing it right and not hindering any fetal development. @HGRich  I thought it was really interesting too, and it makes sense that it could help relieve some pressure like a maternity belt would. I agree, it may be too bulky, especially at work!