Q&A Feb-ru-ary Fifth

Taylor72

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KirstinH88

Cross posted from the Glucose Test thread:

For those of you who were determined anemic, how bad was the test scores for that? I got my test results through my patient portal and probably won't hear from the dr until my appt this week, but the hgb had a low range of 11.5 and my hgb came in at 11.1. Would that be enough to say I'm anemic? 

nwshay

@KirstinH88 mine was 11.2 and they're calling me anemic. I assume anything below the normal range they woukd call anemic

mrsstuessy

My records say the normal range is 11.6-15.6. I got an 11.5. My midwife told me my iron levels are amazing! For me, that result is amazing. I am pretty much always slightly anemic pregnant or not. It is something I struggle with. Those results are better than normal for me, so she is calling it amazing. 

SnarkasaurusRex

Mine was 8.2. I'm pretty regularly anemic, though, and I take an OTC iron supplement to help. My OB switched me to a prescription one once my lab results came back though (I was also put on this same prescription after DS was born, because when they took my blood right before discharging me it was 7.8)/ Looking at my paperwork from the lab, they have the normal range listed as 11.1 - 15.9. Your result is probably low enough that your OB will suggest an OTC iron supplement, I would imagine, but it seems like there's a lot of variance on what the "low" end is, so it will probably depend on your specific doctor.

catem07

I don't know about everyone else, but when I've taken an iron supplement it wreaked havoc on my intestines/colon (constipation and dark stools), so talk to your doctor about how you might mitigate that, too, if you have to take iron. 

momtoleo

My doctor's office considers normal HGB to be between 10.4 and 15.3. Mine was 11.8. 

KirstinH88

Waaaahhhh! I'm already constipated enough! 

nwshay

@KirstinH88 My nurse recommended Gentle Iron. I found it on amazon and have been fine! If you search gentle iron its the first one

pinkshades05

Mine was 9.9 and I take a non-constipating one called floravital and it's in liquid form. Not the best tasting but effective. Raise my numbers last pregnancy up to >11.

Nolegirl1185

Mine was 10.5 and my office has the same parameters as you so I would say most likely you will be considered anemic.  My OB said OTC iron wasn't sufficient enough.  He prescribed nu Iron 150.  I asked the pharmacist if it was the same as any OTC iron and they also told me no.  Not really sure why, but I went with it haha.  I do have to say that all the reviews said that it wasn't harsh on your stomach and did not cause constipation.  I have been on it for 5 weeks or so and have had zero issues.  It is not covered by my insurance, but it's not too bad - 20$ a month.  I googled it and buying it anywhere else is 40-50$. 

rachelmiller03

Question for the team green momma's.... Have you thought about baby's going home outfit yet? Do you plan to do a gender neutral outfit, or bring one boy and one girl outfit? My first was born in 100+ degree weather, so we only brought white onsies and his muslin swaddling blanket as a light cover in the while in the AC. Not sure what to do this time around. 

SnarkasaurusRex

A lot of the prescription ones are slow release, which helps with constipation. I am on Ferralet 90, which has a fast release and a slow release iron, which I've found has been a lot gentler on my system than my normal OTC ones. Definitely something to mention to your doctor if they suggest putting you on something, especially if constipation is already an issue.

MWoodside

rachelmiller03 said:

Question for the team green momma's.... Have you thought about baby's going home outfit yet? Do you plan to do a gender neutral outfit, or bring one boy and one girl outfit? My first was born in 100+ degree weather, so we only brought white onsies and his muslin swaddling blanket as a light cover in the while in the AC. Not sure what to do this time around. 

We aren't team green this time, but we were with our first 2 babes. I brought a GN outfit both times. Our hospital does 1 day old pics so I did bring a boyish and girly swaddle and a tiny flower headband for those pics with DD2. If we had been team green this time I think I would have bought 2 outfits. I feel like most GN outfits are pretty boyish.

Blueberry85

@rachelmiller03 We were team green for DD and just brought a gender neutral outfit. A white sleeper with jungle or circus animals, I think? It was cute, and I'd use it again if we were team green this go round.

Magheeta

KirstinH88 said:

Waaaahhhh! I'm already constipated enough! 

I'm going to be munching on prunes today. This may be a FFC, but I've been bad about taking my prenatals because the little bit of iron they contain hurt my stomach and make me ridiculously constipated. I'm already drinking fluids for what feels like 24/7 to combat dehydration, I don't know if I'll have room to take in anymore to fight the constipation. I have been taking them the past few days and am over this feeling already.  

Blueberry85

Any ST+Moms have a good idea for a big sibling gift from the new baby? DD already has a couple baby dolls, so I'm kinda stuck. I was thinking maybe a stuffed animal and some new coloring books and crayons? Not 100% sure, though.

pammasu0909

Has anyone see the older style Nuk bottles in stores?  DD loved them so I was hoping to grab a few at Target the other day, but they only had their new "natural" or whatever bottles.

Virginialeigh

@rachelmiller03 we were team green with our first but I refused to believe that he was a girl so I only took boy clothes. My sister had a girl outfit she was going to bring me if it was a girl.

schef070911

Anyone want to share what they've done in the past as far as personal grooming in third trimester?  I've never gotten a wax (possibly FFFC?) - not sure now is the best time to start? - and have always been more of a trim and shave kind of girl, but I'm not sure how to make it work now that I can't see what I'm doing down there!

SnarkasaurusRex

@schef070911 I've heard that waxes hurt a lot more while pregnant because you've got increased blood flow down there, but I've never had one so I can't say for sure.

Now that I can't see down there I use DH's old beard trimmer. It worked pretty well last time, too...I didn't want to roll up at L&D with a full 80's bush!

Taylor72

@schef070911 I have gotten waxed several times before but haven't recently.  I went back to the trim and shave about a year ago.  but TBH...it happens about once a week right now because it sucks. I said to DH yesterday, I can't figure out how to shave my hoo-haa because I can't see it.  His response was "I cant see my face in the shower when I shave but I still do that" well good for you buddy but I don't care.  I have decided that I'm going to get a wax this month and then again about 3 weeks before my due date. 

HGRich

@schef070911 I'm glad you asked that one because I've been wondering myself. I know some women who let their husbands do it, but I don't think I trust him to wax or shave, and I'm not sure he'd be willing! But maybe I can remind him of the time I waxed off his back hair for him for our beach vacation. 

MWoodside

Blueberry85 said:

Any ST+Moms have a good idea for a big sibling gift from the new baby? DD already has a couple baby dolls, so I'm kinda stuck. I was thinking maybe a stuffed animal and some new coloring books and crayons? Not 100% sure, though.

Busy book! It was something I only pulled out when I was nursing the new baby. It was a godsend. I made it, but you can buy them as well.

HappyAnjel

@Taylor72 well good for him.. but he doesn't have to worry about mutilating "the man in the boat" while shaving his face..

@schef070911 I bought a mirror.. it's not the best solution I'm sure but I don't look like I took a machete to the garden either...

@pammasu0909 target online

MWoodside

Oh god no, do not get waxed for the first time during pregnancy! I usually wax, but it's WAY more painful during pregnancy. When I am not pregnant I take 2 advil 30 min prior and it's manageable.

I just use an electric shaver during pregnancy b/c it doesn't cut me. I really can't see down there anymore.

KirstinH88

@schef070911 I let DH use his electric shaver and go to town, then I clean up around the edges as best I can with a razor. 

FFFC: we do this even if I'm not pregnant! 

mrsstuessy

I was waxed once mostly because I was curious and wanted to know if I liked it. It wasn't bad. But, I just don't really care that much about my pubic hair. Honestly, body hair in general is not a big deal for me. I don't do a single thing to my eyebrows either. In the summer I keep my bikini line shaved for swimsuit wearing and I shave down there if I feel in the mood. DH is fine with whatever I want. I recently hacked off some of the worst of it because it had been months since I did anything down there. 
@HGRich I am having DH trim  me down there before we go into L&D. I don't feel like dealing with all that hair and the bloody mess. He has agreed and is ready to give it a try. 

schef070911

Thanks all! So we have an electric trimmer that I use when I cut DH's hair; I'm not sure that he knows I also use it.  He *might* help me out if I ask..... if he's not too weirded out.  @HappyAnjel the mirror is a good idea!

Magheeta

schef070911 said:

Anyone want to share what they've done in the past as far as personal grooming in third trimester?  I've never gotten a wax (possibly FFFC?) - not sure now is the best time to start? - and have always been more of a trim and shave kind of girl, but I'm not sure how to make it work now that I can't see what I'm doing down there!

I was able to do a blind trim last week. I have a really good trimmer that hasn't pinched me yet, and it seemed to have gotten the job done. DH isn't picky though, so it's more of a comfort thing for me. Oh and I give myself a 1. 

doozenberg

I usually wax down there, but everyone is right, it's more painful while pregnant. Plus, with the belly I can't see as well. I use a mirror and wax the perimeter (that I can still do) and just trim the hair closer to the lady bits to keep it tidy.

super_sam03

@schef070911 I bought a mirror.. it's not the best solution I'm sure but I don't look like I took a machete to the garden either...

BAHAHHAHA MACHETE TO THE GARDEN!!! @HappyAnjel

@schef070911 I braved the bottom carriage this weekend - some of it blind and some with a mirror.  My DH offered to help but I said we needed to keep SOME mystery in our marriage, and that was crossing a line somewhere.   It was funny, we went to the birthing class and we both noticed how groomed all the ladies were.  

M&Max

I second/third the electric trimmer! I use one that has a guard on it so no chance of pinching, etc.  It's been super easy and keeps it reasonably tidy. 

catem07

I bleed pretty much every time I shave now, causing a brief moment of panic when I see it show up in my underwear. I'm going to try to do it once a week to keep things neat. It is not something I'd ask DH to do for me.

Also, pooping during labor seems way more embarrassing than showing up to L&D unshaved, and it sounds like many women do poop during labor , so I'm going to give up on any shame over having pubic hair.  

mrsstuessy

@catem07 As a birth doula I have seen every level of pubic hair on my clients from totally natural to completely shaven And I am 100% sure that every L&D nurse and OB/midwife has as well. I do not have a 2nd thought about the pubic hair that I see. It is the last thing anyone is caring about at that moment. Do what is comfortable for you. And on that note... pooping... I've seen at as well, multiple times. I cannot stress enough how much of a "no big deal" sort of thing it is. 

Ekzerr

Question for third time + moms:

just curious if if anyone has gone into labour on their own for one and been induced for another and what the difference in pain was?!

jennielynn+

Definitely try to keep the hair short down there leading up to delivery. You will have to wash down there post delivery to keep everything clean. It is so much easier if its already tidy. TMI but, you don't want dried blood in the pubes complicating an already bruised crime scene of a vagina. 

I agree don't start waxing if you haven't before. I'm curious if you ladies say that it hurts are using strips or hard wax. I exclusively hard wax and I don't find it harsh at all on the tender bits. I'm not going to wax in 3T though. I think shaving is more manageable since you can control the frequency. No grow time. 

Taylor72

question deleted because I'm an idiot that is just going to call the dr lol

KirstinH88

@Taylor72 Do they have a frequency to them? I'm sure your dr will want you to come in. Keep us updated!

LaceyRae25

@Blueberry85 a simple little board game (like frozen themed chutes and ladders, no reading required) I got one for my cousins little girl and they both love it. Mom can feed baby and still interact with her dd. 

HappyAnjel

@catem07 I pooped during labor. (thanks to DH for telling me) There are so much else going on you aren't going to care, and the nurse is just going to pull the pad out from under you and bin it if you do, without a second thought.  My best friend also pooped while she was in labor, I was at her leg and I didn't realize she did until the nurse discretely asked me to move so she could grab the pad out. I don't know if she even realized it.